January 2020

Choices for Edinburgh City Plan 2030

Posted on January 22, 2020January 22, 2020 by Fiona Campbell

City of Edinburgh Council have released their Choices for City Plan 2030 which sets out options on how to make the best use of land within Edinburgh for future development.

The Choices report is structured around four outcomes as follows: (1) a sustainable city which supports everyone’s physical and mental wellbeing; (2) a city in which everyone lives in a home which they can afford; (3) a city where you don’t need to own a car to move around; and (4) a city where everyone shares in its economic success.
The document sets out a total of 16 choices, grouped under the aforesaid themes.
On short term lets specifically, the paper sets out a new policy on the loss of homes to alternative uses. This new policy will be used when planning permission is required for a change of use of residential flats and houses to short-term lets or other uses.

Choice 9 – Protecting against the loss of Edinburgh’s homes to other uses

“…we recognise that an uncontrolled approach to shortstay commercial visitor accommodation (short term lets) within Edinburgh is having an impact on the quality of life for our residents and is resulting in a significant loss of our homes. We want to change our planning policy to help balance the needs of both residents and visitor and strengthen our existing communities by reducing the loss of housing.”

Proposed Changes:

City of Edinburgh Council wish to consult on designating Edinburgh, or parts of Edinburgh, as a short-term let control area, where planning permission will always be required for the change of use of whole properties for short-term lets.

City of Edinburgh Council wish to consider using the powers under the Planning Act, as announced by the Housing Minister during his recent Ministerial Statement, to see whether a short-term let control area would be appropriate for Edinburgh.
They state that homesharing, which they define as “renting a room in your own home or allowing others to stay in your own home whilst on holiday” would not be affected by these changes.

City of Edinburgh Council wish to create a new policy on the loss of homes to alternative uses. This will be used when planning permission is required for a change of use of residential flats and houses to short-stay commercial visitor accommodation or other uses.

The policy will set out criteria to help determine when a) material change of use from residential to short-stay commercial accommodation has occurred and b) when it will be acceptable. This new policy will be in addition to current policies which prevent development which would have a detrimental effect on the living conditions of nearby residents.

Next Steps

The Planning Committee of City of Edinburgh Council will discuss the contents Choices for City at their meeting on 22^ndJanuary 2020. It has been recommended that the Committee approves the document for publication and consultation.

If agreed to by the Committee, Choices for City will be subject to an eight-week consultation. The Council will public sessions and themed events for the public and stakeholders to attend.

Joint letter to the Housing Minister Kevin Stewart MSP

Posted on January 20, 2020December 13, 2022 by Fiona Campbell

The Association of Scotland’s Self-Caterers and Short-Term Accommodation Association have issued a letter to the Housing Minister Kevin Stewart MSP, following the Scottish Government’s announcement of forthcoming regulations for the short-term letting sector in Scotland.

Dear Minister,

As representatives of the short-term letting industry, we are writing to you to express our ongoing commitment to work with the Scottish Government, MSPs and local authorities on a new regulatory framework for short-term lets.

While the signatories to this letter differ in size and scope, our organisations are united in the belief that the short-term letting sector should be subject to updated regulation. We believe that clear, consistent and fair rules will strike the right balance between local communities where more control is necessary and the benefits short-term lets bring to Scotland’s tourist industry.

The ASSC and STAA have engaged positively and constructively with the Scottish Government over the past three years. We are fully committed to working with the Scottish Government on the details of the regulations to ensure that there is clarity for all those connected with, and affected by, short-term letting activity in Scotland.

Following your statement in the Scottish Parliament on 8th January we have identified five points where we would welcome further clarity from the Scottish Government:

A clear definition of what is, and what is not short-term letting activity – so that boundaries are clear for those operating in the short-term and long-term rental sectors, and we can properly understand the target of these regulations.
The proposed licensing regime – more details are needed on the criteria, the proposed duration of licences, the administrative processes that operators will need to follow, and the associated guidance that must ensure consistency and proportionality across Scotland.
The costs of the licensing and planning permission system – ensuring that these are truly proportionate to the costs of administration, and set at a level that does not unduly burden those who are renting very infrequently, or that layers further expense on established businesses who are already making a contribution to local authorities.
How control zones will be defined – what evidence will be needed to justify their introduction, and how they will be reviewed, and what policy responses to those zones are appropriate and proportionate.
The interplay between regulation and taxation – recognising the potential of the STR sector as a source of tax revenue for the Government, while also acknowledging that unduly restrictive regulation of the sector may discourage activity, leading to a reduction in tax revenues. Further analysis is needed to ensure that interventions like changes to business rates and new tourist levies and taxes do not result in unintended outcomes.

We believe that constructive dialogue between the industry, government and local communities can result in regulations that balance the needs of residents and support tourism, one of Scotland’s most important industries. We are here to help should you require any additional information from us.

Yours sincerely,

Association of Scotland’s Self-Caterers

Short-Term Accommodation Association

ASSC Comment on Amendment to Non-Domestic Rates (Scotland) Bill

Posted on January 20, 2020January 20, 2020 by Fiona Campbell

The Association of Scotland’s Self-Caterers (ASSC) has joined the growing list of concerned stakeholders in Scotland over proposals to grant local authorities the power to set business rates, following an amendment tabled to the Scottish Government’s Non-Domestic Rates (Scotland) Bill.

The Scottish Government remain opposed to the amendment, lodged at Stage 2 in the legislative process by Scottish Green MSP Andy Wightman, which received the support of opposition parties.

Passing control over Scotland’s £2.8bn business rates to councils is opposed by a number of trade associations and business organisations, who have also written to MSPs to express their concerns, and the ASSC have joined this united front.

Fiona Campbell, Chief Executive of the ASSC, said:

“This cross-sectoral appeal to MSPs highlights the very real concerns from the business community in Scotland regarding this amendment. The professional self-catering sector, an important lynchpin of Scotland’s tourism industry, are also extremely concerned about what it will entail.”

“The lack of an economic impact assessment for the proposals – as well as a thorough consultation process for such a significant change to the NDR regime – heightens our concerns.”

“At Stage 3, we would therefore urge MSPs to protect small businesses throughout Scotland by voting against this amendment and to retain the Uniform Business Rate.”