Short-term let licensing scheme proposal back in spotlight as Highland Council agrees response; Scottish Government scheme seeks to balance benefit to hosts and communities with impact on housing availability and nuisance to neighbours
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PLANS to regulate short-term lets across the Highlands have taken another step forward under a scheme which aims to balance the economic benefit to hosts and local communities with the negative impact on housing availability.
The plans being driven by the Scottish Government will impact people across the Highlands, amongst them the mushrooming number of residents running Airbnb lets.
Concerns over the impact such short-term lets can have in tourism hotspots like Skye have prompted a consultation by the Scottish Government on proposed new regulations which would give the authorities more power to intervene.
Members at this week's Highland Council meeting approved a response to the consultation which was submitted ahead of this month's deadline after input from the chairs of the Tourism and Licensing committees.
Councillors noted that short-term lets have significant economic benefits to Highland communities, but acknowledged that in some circumstances there can be negative impacts.
They also noted the significant "resource implications" for the council and agreed that the costs of administering the scheme would be recovered in full by way of fees, as permitted by the licensing scheme.
The report also highlighted that any costs incurred through the establishment of so-called "Control Areas" under planning legislation cannot be recovered and would be additional costs. Councillors agreed that the implementation of such areas will be the subject of a report to the economy and infrastructure committee following consultation with the housing and property committee and relevant area committees.
It was further agreed that the setting of fees for the proposed licensing scheme will be the subject of a report to the licensing committee after the regulations are finalised.
Chair of the tourism committee, Cllr Maxine Smith, said: “The council recognise the benefits of short-term lets in the Highlands to both hosts and visitors. The proposed changes will ensure the council have appropriate powers to balance the needs and concerns of their communities with wider economic and tourism interests.”
Chair of the licensing committee, Cllr Andrew Jarvie, said: “The new regulations will have significant resources implications for the council in terms of planning, licensing and environmental health.
“The majority of these costs can be fully mitigated through the fee structure and work is under way to understand the resources needed to implement the new regime. This is turn will help set the fees required.The council will publicise the new requirements to businesses in the area when the regulations are finalised by the Scottish Government.”
The council says short-term lets can bring substantial economic benefits to communities but also have negative aspects in reducing availability of residential housing and in some circumstances, disturbing residents. The Scottish Government’s new regulations are intended to provide local authorities with proportionate powers to manage the negative aspects of short-term lets without undue restrictions on the economic benefits.
The Scottish Government has stated that it will review the tax treatment of short-term lets to ensure that they make an appropriate contribution to the communities that they operate in.
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