x
By using this website, you agree to our use of cookies to enhance your experience.
Graham Awards

TODAY'S OTHER NEWS

Clampdown on Airbnb and other short lets - support for council move

A council clampdown on four short let flats in Edinburgh has been backed by the Scottish Government.

The council discovered that the short let properties were operating without planning permission and were also “causing harm to residential amenity” because of various anti-social disturbances. 

Enforcement notices were served on the owners but this was appealed to the Scottish Government - however, Holyrood has now backed the council move.

Advertisement

A spokesman for Edinburgh council says: “It’s very encouraging to see [the government] so strongly supporting our position on these four properties and it’s good news that they won’t be lost as residences for our citizens in the future. 

“This is so important as short term lets have reduced the city’s housing stock, hollowed out communities and caused numerous issues for residents such as noise and other anti-social behaviour.

“This time last year we welcomed the Scottish Government announced that our call for a new regulatory scheme had been successful. Since then they have carried out a consultation and subject to Parliament approval, new legislation will be brought in by government on April 1 this year.

"This is very welcome as it will improve the lives of many of our residents throughout the city.”

The legislation will set levels on the numbers of short lets in the cities and will require those properties eligible to be short let to seek change of use planning consent.

Want to comment on this story? If so...if any post is considered to victimise, harass, degrade or intimidate an individual or group of individuals on any basis, then the post may be deleted and the individual immediately banned from posting in future.

  • icon

    For once I'm on the Council's side, but the SNP are to blame for taking all control away from landlords who would previously have been happy to provide long term rental properties. No fixed term leases, No simple way to get rid of problem tenants, problems with joint tenancies unless all joint tenants agree to end the joint tenancy, compulsory registration for all landlords and expensive licences for more than two unrelated adults sharing.

    If English landlords want to see the future, Look at Scotland since 2017. Only bright point was rents rising by around 30% for high demand properties in 2018 and still rising by over 5% per annum.

  • George Dawes

    I agree , Airbnb are a curse .

  • icon

    Nothing wrong with AirBnb. I'm in Scotland . It works very well for me. Who can blame landlords for trying to escape from the nightmare world of long term renting when tenants have all the rights, and will take full advantage of them? Landlords are treated like scum by the government, no help when attempting to evict non payers etc, in fact, as far as I can see they put obstacle after obstacle in your way. We're also taxed differently to everyone else in the country. Not recognised as a legitimate business yet taxed more than anyone else. I've been a landlord for over 20 years now. and have 12 properties, 2 of which are legitimate AirBnb/holiday lets.....less hassle, more profit, property is maintained , I can sell it when/if I want with no lengthy notice periods etc. I've had enough of long term lets and will be selling the portfolio one by one. Enough is enough.

  • icon

    Shane

    Have you made your MP and MSP aware of your plans? If both are SNP zealots then let Douglas Ross and Ruth Davidson know. They need all the helpful intelligence they can get.

icon

Please login to comment

MovePal MovePal MovePal
sign up