Lets scheme is now out of control

Sir, – JW Milne’s letter (‘Blunt instrument’ approach harms rural holiday lets, November 17) precisely describes the problem with the Scottish Government’s new short term lets licensing scheme, which is now under way.

For some bizarre reason they decided to implement a blanket approach, thereby dragging all holiday accommodation providers, (professionals and hobbyists) into a costly bureaucratic process, whether or not there is a problem with a shortage of long term let accommodation or anti-social behaviour in their area.

Perth and Kinross Council has purportedly had to employ extra staff to implement the scheme, which entails yurts, glamping pods, people renting out a spare bedroom, B&BS and holiday home owners, etc, needing to have a minimum of £5 million public liability cover, electrical checks done, fire safety checks, Legionnaire’s disease checks, notwithstanding the costly licence fee.

Incidentally, home owners/ renters can legally rent out a spare bedroom for a lodger or as a B&B under the Uk-wide “Rent a Room” scheme, but will now need to apply for a licence in Scotland.

Many people will despair and simply give up when they read the “pre-application checklist” from Perth and Kinross Council.

All that was required was a simple registration scheme, ensuring you had insurance to protect your guests, your family, and your property. Airbnb automatically provide this protection.

One can only assume that the Scottish Government implemented a blanket approach because it was the easy option.

When this issue was first mooted by our MSPS a few years ago, it was to address the problem of unavailable housing stock for long term lets in places like Edinburgh, and anti-social behaviour.

It ballooned out of control into a “one size fits all” policy, to the potential detriment of tourism and its operators, big and small, throughout Scotland.

All the best to the Association of Scottish Self Caterers in their legal challenge on the legislation.

S Wilkinson.

Bridge of Cally, Perthshire.