Owner of holiday homes voices fears over ‘scary and draconian’ new laws

A Fife holiday homes owner failed in a lastditch plea to MSPS, urging them not to bring in the new licensing laws for short-term lets.

Moira Henderson fears the controversial legislation will decimate the tourism industry across Scotland.

And she worries her own business in northeast Fife will be “up the creek”.

Moira is chairwoman of Fife Tourism Partnership and owner of The Ring, a purpose-built holiday home for wheelchair users near Chance Inn.

She also has six holiday cabins for people with specific needs.

Charging owners £1,500 for licences to run their properties will be a huge burden, she said.

And neighbours will have the chance to object to applications, meaning livelihoods could be under threat if permission is denied.

Moira described the legislation as “scary and draconian”. And she added: “It’s been brought about by people with no understanding of tourism whatsoever”.

Ministers proposed new licensing laws in a bid to tackle the growth of shortterm lets on platforms such as Airbnb.

The move followed a huge rise in the number of holiday properties in popular tourist areas like Edinburgh.

MSPS said increased regulation would help tackle spiralling rent and claims of disruption.

Owners of short-term lets will now need to get licences from local councils by 2024. But Moira argues these problems do not apply to rural areas such as northeast Fife.

She said: “My neighbours could object to me getting a licence and I could lose my holiday business.

“If you have someone who only lets out one room in their house they have to pay £1,500.

“We don’t know if it’s £1,500 per property or per business.”

And she added: “It’s not just my business.

“I use a laundry in Cupar to do all my laundry and it will affect them.

“I employ people who would find it difficult to get employment elsewhere. It will affect these people.

“And it will affect all my suppliers.”

Moira Henderson.