Airbnb faces crackdown in curbs on property lets
A CRACKDOWn on Airbnb properties and other short-term lets will begin next year.
The introduction of a licensing system and a cap on numbers in some areas was paused due to the coronavirus pandemic.
But the Scottish Government yesterday published a consultation on its plans and said councils will have the power to create ‘control areas’ by next spring.
However, it could take up to a further year for councils to set up the system.
A document in the consultation states: ‘Work to implement the regulations was paused in March 2020 because of the coronavirus pandemic but resumed in July 2020.
‘The Scottish Government aims to lay the regulations giving local authorities powers to license short-term lets and introduce control areas in December 2020 so that they can be in force by spring 2021.’
Details of the implementation period emerged as Housing Minister Kevin Stewart vowed the Scottish Government would bring in new laws if the licensing scheme fails to tackle problems linked to short-term lets.
In addition to requiring hosts to obtain a licence before advertising a short-term property let, ministers also propose that councils can introduce control areas where such lets can be restricted or barred altogether.
The changes are being brought in after complaints about the impact these types of property lets have in areas such as Edinburgh, one of the most popular places for Airbnb listings.
Research for the Scottish Government found that in May 2019, there were just under 22,100 active listings of whole properties on Airbnb in Scotland.
The consultation paper said that while the new measures are ‘expected to come into force in April 2021’ it was understood that local councils would require time to implement them.
‘We recognise some local authorities will be more
‘Proportionate but fair’
advanced in their planning to do this than others,’ the paper said. ‘For this reason, we are giving local authorities discretion as to when they bring the provisions into force in their area. However, all local authorities must have a live licensing scheme open to receive licensing applications by April 1, 2022.’
The Scottish Government will produce guidance on the scheme in spring next year.
Mr Stewart said ministers had taken a ‘proportionate but fair’ approach to the issue.
He said the changes would help to address ‘a pressing issue for some of our communities’ but would ‘not unduly curtail the many benefits of short-term lets to hosts’.
Mr Stewart added: ‘Shortterm lets can offer people a flexible and affordable accommodation option, and they have contributed positively to Scotland’s tourism industry and local economies.
‘However, we know that in certain areas, particularly tourist hot spots, high numbers of these arrangements can cause problems for neighbours and make it harder for people to find homes to live in.’
A spokesman for Airbnb said: ‘We have long supported calls for fair regulations in Scotland and look forward to working with the Scottish Government, local authorities and the wider community throughout this process. Together we can help locals share their homes and follow the rules, while avoiding a system that excludes people who depend on this income to make ends meet.’