The Scottish Government has announced a new licensing scheme for short term lets is to be introduced.
Read the full media release.
Adam McVey Council Leader said:
This is fantastic news for residents. After our call for this legislative change we worked with the Scottish Government as they consulted on this issue and how the details of a licensing scheme would work.
I’m really pleased all short term lets will now need a licence making them much easier to control not only in terms of overall impact on our housing supply but also help us deal with any anti-social behaviour and noise issues.
It’ll mean whole properties being let out as short term lets will need to have ‘change of use’ planning permission before they can be granted a licence. This will help to stop homes being taken out of residential use or being let out when they are unsuitable or unsafe.
In addition to this, councillors will consider a report next month on whether we should apply to the Scottish Government for Edinburgh to become a ‘short term let control area’. Enforcement of planning legislation is a costly and lengthy process. If approved, many properties being used as short term lets would automatically require to have planning permission in place.