Meeting of the Parliament (Hybrid) 24 February 2021
Short-term lets bring benefits to hosts, visitors and the Scottish economy. They are an important source of flexible and responsive accommodation for tourists and workers. However, they have also caused issues and adverse impacts for local communities.
The regulations, which were agreed to by members of all parties in the Local Government and Communities Committee, provide local authorities with powers to introduce control areas, but they do not require local authorities to use those powers. Control areas will help local authorities to manage high concentrations of secondary letting where they affect the availability of residential housing or the character of a neighbourhood. They will help to restrict or prevent short-term lets in places or types of building where they are not considered appropriate and they will help local authorities to ensure that homes in their communities are used to best effect.
The Scottish ministers will consider and approve proposals for control areas to ensure that they are justified and that the planning authority has followed the correct procedures. That includes consulting and taking account of the views expressed by the community, including residents and operators of short-term lets. The approval process will not be onerous, and I consider that it is right that the Scottish ministers have a role in ensuring that control areas are used appropriately.
Members are aware that I have withdrawn the legislation for a short-term lets licensing scheme in order to address concerns raised by members and tourism stakeholders. A stakeholder working group has been established to help develop draft guidance for licensing and control areas. I am sure that that guidance will help to provide reassurance on the operation of the scheme for operators, hosts and communities.
I believe that our proposals take a robust but proportionate approach to the regulation of short-term lets. In the meantime, control areas have been supported by parties across the chamber, and I urge members to support the motion.