Views sought over proposed new short term let control areas

Highland Council has launched a public consultation on the possibility of two Short Term Let Control Areas (STLCA) – one for Inverness City and one for what it is calling Highland Rural.

The consultation opens today (Tuesday) and will run until June 23.

It can be accessed via the Highland Council website and in-person events will run in the following locations: Plockton (May 14); Lochinver (May 18); Fort Augustus (May 21); Inverness (May 22); Portree (May 25); Fort William (May 20); Ullapool (June 1).

Should it be approved, planning permission would be required for any future change of use from a residential property to a short-term let – which the owner does not live in.

The STLCA would not affect second homes, empty properties or purpose-built holiday accommodations such as pods.

Council convenor Bill Lobban said: “STLCAs are not a ban on short-term lets, and we recognise the important role they play in our visitor economy.

"What they allow us to do is balance tourism growth with local housing need by managing concentrations of short-term lets in areas where housing availability or neighbourhood amenity is adversely affected.

"We face a housing challenge in Highland and the availability of local housing for people to live and work in the region is critical to the future sustainability of our communities and the wider socio-economic transformation of our region.

"No decisions have been made yet and the feedback gathered through the consultation, along with the evidence available, will help shape the Council’s next steps.”

An STLCA has been in operation in the Badenoch and Strathspey area for two years, the council stating it has shown “early indications” of slowing the growth of short-term lets in the area.

Control zones not 'silver bullet' for housing crisis - ASSC

Highland Council has said it is up to individual communities whether an STLCA is introduced in their area or not.

However, Association of Scotland's Self Caterers (ASSC) Chief Executive Fiona Campbell doesn't feel data provided shows it helps lower house prices and could jeopardise a vital sector

She said: "This is not the silver bullet to fix the housing crisis, and to suggest so is disingenuous at best.

"You'll have swathes of people across the Highlands thinking 'aw this is it, we're going to be able to buy an affordable house', that is simply not happening.

"They are scapegoating a sector that represents £200 million to the Highland economy without actually fixing the fundamental route cause of the housing crisis."

For more information and to participate in the consultation, visit the Highland Council website.