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Category: Regulations

Motion Lodged

Posted on by Fiona Campbell

The following motion has been lodged by Rachael Hamilton MSP:

S6M-02835: Rachael Hamilton, Ettrick, Roxburgh and Berwickshire, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party, Date Lodged: 24/01/2022

Short-term Let Licensing Scheme

That the Parliament recognises that the Local Government, Housing and Planning Committee held an online survey to gather views on the Scottish Government’s plans to require local authorities to introduce a licensing scheme for short-term let accommodation; understands that, out of a total of 2,578 responses, 1,200 respondents said they “strongly oppose” the new regulations, compared with around 500 who said that they “strongly support” the regulations; further understands that over 60% of respondents said that they believed the regulations would drive up costs for small short-term let businesses, while approximately 45% said the regulations would lead to the closure of short-term let businesses; acknowledges the concerns about the proposals that were expressed by organisations such as the Association of Scotland’s Self-Caterers, Scottish Agritourism and the National Farmers Union of Scotland, and urges the Scottish Government not to proceed with what it considers to be damaging proposals that threaten small rural businesses and livelihoods.

Supported by: Stephen Kerr

Electrical Safety Checks Announced For Short-Term Lets In Scotland

Posted on by Fiona Campbell

New laws will see 5 yearly checks on electrical installations and appliance testing.

Mandatory five yearly electrical safety checks are to be introduced for short term lets in Scotland as well as electrical appliance testing, the Scottish Government has announced.

Owners of short term lets in Scotland, will be required to prove their properties are electrically safe under new laws passed by Holyrood in a first of its kind for the UK.

Under new legislation the electrical installation, including wiring, sockets and fittings within the property will need to be inspected and tested by a competent person at least every five years. On completion an electrical installation condition report (or EICR) must be provided to the owner.

Appliances that are accessible to guests will also be required to be inspected and tested which could include washing machines, tumble dryers and fridges. A report will be required to prove the safety of these appliances called a Portable Appliance Testing (PAT) Report.

The introduction of these new laws will see Scotland become the first nation within the UK to introduce electrical safety regulations on short term lets.

Current laws and standards in Scotland already require landlords within the private rented sector and social rented sector to undertake five yearly electrical safety checks however owners of short term lets were not covered by these requirements.

 

Short-Term Let Licensing Announcement Media Coverage

Posted on by Fiona Campbell

Highland Council to establish short term lets licensing scheme in 2022

Glasgow Live, Glasgow Airbnb owners to require licenses to rent out their properties in future, 20/01/22

Insider, Licencing scheme for Airbnb-style rents passed by Holyrood, 20.02.22

BBC, New rules passed for short-term lets in Scotland, 19/01/22

STV, Holyrood backs introduction of licencing scheme for short-term lets, 19/01/22

Herald, SNP’s Airbnb crackdown plans approved despite last-ditch attempt to water them down, 19/01/22

Scottish Government, Short-term lets legislation approved, 19/01/22

Daily Business, Short term lets licensing plan to go ahead, 19/01/22

Press and Journal, Licencing scheme for Airbnb-style rents passed by Holyrood, 19/01/22

Scottish Housing News, Local authorities to set up licensing schemes after short-term lets legislation approved, 19/01/22

National (Scotland), Holyrood votes to bring in licences for Airbnb-style lets in Scotland, 19/01/22

National (Wales), Holyrood to bring in licences for Airbnb-style lets in Scotland, 19/01/22

Strathspey and Badenoch Herald, Highland Council to set up short-term let licensing schemes, 20.1.22

Short Term Rentalz, MSPs approve short-term let licensing scheme in Scotland, 20.1.22

Letting Agent Today, Short let units should switch to mainstream rentals, says agent, 24/01/22

Strathspey Herald, Highlands MSP claims licensing scheme for short-term lets will damage tourism sector, 22/01/22

Scotsman, Set-back on rural short-term lets, 22/01/22

Edinburgh Reporter, Edinburgh in position to begin regulating short term lets, 22/01/22

Edinburgh Live, Edinburgh in “strong position” to start Airbnb crackdown, council leader says, 21/01/22

Ross-shire Journal, Highland Council to set up short-term let licensing schemes as controversial Scottish Government legislation set to be rolled out, 21/01/22

Record, Owners of AirBnB-style lets in Falkirk now required to ensure electrical safety, 21/01/22

Holyrood, Local authorities set to increase control over short-term lets, 21/01/22

National, Glasgow sees biggest rise in room rents in UK as prices balloon, 20/01/22

Northern Times, Highland Council to set up short-term let licensing schemes, 20/01/22

Property Industry Eye, Savills concerned about new ‘one size fits all’ short-term let licensing scheme, 25/01/22

STV, Edinburgh in ‘strong position to start Airbnb crackdown’, 24/01/22

Scotsman, Short-term lets in Scotland: How the Scottish government has sought to strike a balance between tourism and tackling the problems – Shona Robison MSP, 24/01/22

Northern Scot, New and controversal short term let licensing rules attacked by opposition MPs and industry bodies, 24/01/22

Letting Agent Today, Short let units should switch to mainstream rentals, says agent, 24/01/22

In Your Area, New housing regulations slammed as “ignorant to the needs of area” by landlords, 24/01/22

National, Here’s how much money short-term holiday lets are making in Scotland, 23/01/22

Northern Times, AirBnB-style short-term let operators will have to get a license from April of next year after the Scottish Parliament approved new legislation in a bid to tackle noise, antisocial behaviour and the impact on the supply of housing in some areas, 30/01/22

Ross-Shire Journal, Short-term let properties in Highland will need a licence under Scottish Government rules which are welcomed by MSP Emma Roddick as ‘a first step’, 29/01/22

Courier, New licensing laws ‘insulting’, say Perthshire holiday home owners, 28/01/22

ITV Border, Calls to tackle housing crisis and holiday lets in Keswick, 28/01/22

Record, Dumfries and Galloway holiday accommodation providers fear new legislation is “a sledgehammer to crack quite a small nut”, 28/01/22

Farming UK, Scotland’s new short term lets rules ‘a setback’ for rural firms, 02/02/22

Scottish Farmer, Rural businesses set to suffer under short-term licensing scheme, 02/02/22

Agriland, Scottish short-term lets legislation a ‘setback’ to rural businesses, 02/02/22

Scotland on Sunday, ‘Height of hypocrisy’ as Scottish ministers spend £40,000 on Airbnbs, 13/02/22

Times, Ministers refuse to explain their £40,000 Airbnb bill, 14/02/22

Herald, Scotland Airbnb row as SNP ministers spend £40,000 on accommodation, 13/02/22

WHFP, LEGISLATION HEADACHE: Councils face ‘damage limitation’ on new short term lets licences, 15/02/22