Over-regulation of Airbnb-style lets could damage tourism - claim

Over-regulation of short-term let accommodation in some areas of rural Scotland could pose a risk to rural tourism, a business organisation has claimed. 

Scottish Land & Estates says the Scottish Government should ensure local authorities have the powers to apply any new regulations for short-term lets to only those areas that have recognised issues with anti-social behaviour or a housing shortage - not to all rural locations.

SLE says it supports the principle of targeted regulation but warns against a one-size-fits-all approach, saying this could penalise those self-catering businesses in areas that do not have substantial housing supply issues or problems with anti-social behaviour arising from this type of property.

Marcelina Hamilton, policy advisor at SLE comments: “Over-regulating the short-term let accommodation sector … is looking to fix a problem that does not exist in many places. Too much red tape could mean it is no longer viable for some operators in rural areas to offer self-catering accommodation which brings in much needed tourist spend to the area.

“We want to see a distinction between the type of accommodation and the impact of that short-term let on the area. Properly targeted regulation could positively impact on communities that suffer from a housing shortage brought about by too many short-term lets as well as helping to tackle the anti-social behaviour associated with some accommodation.”

SLE claims the holiday let sector in Scotland supports 15,000 jobs and attracts £470m of consumer spending in Scotland according to figures by Frontline for the Association of Scottish Self Catering.

SLE has also said in its response to the consultation that any rules for short-term lets should firstly distinguish between those run as a business and those run part-time on an amateur basis, and distinguish between different property types such as tenement flat and detached house, and finally limit any licensing scheme to whole homes which are let out for more than 140 days per year in areas where there is a housing shortage.

There is currently no statutory definition of short-term lets in Scotland. 

The current definition of self-catering holiday accommodation is that a dwelling is available for let for 140 days or more in the financial year: this makes it exempt from council tax and becomes instead liable for non-domestic rates.