The Scottish Government’s announcement that it is to introduce measures to provide local authorities with the ability to implement a licensing scheme for short-term lets from spring 2021 has been welcomed by UKHospitality. The scheme will also incorporate compulsory underpinning safety standards and optional, powers for local authorities to impose further conditions where appropriate.
UKHospitality’s Executive director for Scotland Willie Macleod (pictured) commented, “We are pleased to see the Scottish Government look to bring in long-overdue registration and powers to control the massive and uncompetitive growth in largely unregulated short-term letting. The recent boom in short-term lets has brought with it increased choice for customers but a plethora of problems for residents and a raft of debatable business practices.
“Too many businesses have had an unfair advantage compared with hotels and other accommodation businesses, escaping business taxes and sometimes operating without important safeguards in place. This undermines hospitality businesses that have already been hammered by rising costs in recent years. We are pleased to see these businesses won’t be exempt from any tourist tax and we await further details on how the proposed taxation will proceed and note the requirement for planning change of use for whole properties for short-term lets.”