An Update By Councillor Max Mitchell

An Update From Councillor Max Mitchell

Since I became a councillor in 2017, residents across Inverleith Ward have been in touch about the excessive use of a nearby house or flat being used as a short-term let. Not all shortterm lets are problematic, but for those living next-door to one or sharing a stair that has very frequent usage, it can have a seriously detrimental impact on their well-being and amenity because of noise or disturbances. Furthermore, it can often add pressure to residential bins as well as putting additional pressure on local housing supplies.

In 2019, 31% of AirBnB’s listings in Scotland were in Edinburgh, followed by 19% in Highland then 7% in Glasgow, which demonstrates the volume in Edinburgh compared to other parts of Scotland. The current enforcement process is extremely time and resource intensive and often takes months of investigation to resolve.

In August this year, the Planning Committee approved a proposal to consult on whether the city should have a ‘Short-Term Let Control Area’ covering the entire city. If approved by the Council and then the Scottish Government, property owners who are letting out a residential property as a short-term let would be required to apply for a ‘change of use’ through the planning application process in order to operate. By requiring planning permission, it would enable the Council to consider where short-term lets can function and whether the location is appropriate or not.

I should add that this is not a blanket ban on short-term lets, but it allows for more control under the planning regulations where there are high concentrations of short-term lets or excessive use. Decisions on applications would be made in line with the Council’s Local Development Plan and other ‘material’ considerations. There would be instances under what is proposed where permission would not be needed; the ‘control area’ would not affect those who let rooms in their own home or let out the whole residential property where it is the owner’s principal home and the owner is absent.

This proposal is related to the Scottish Government’s recent consultation on a licensing scheme for short-term lets, which looks to address safety standards and anti-social behaviour. If the proposed licensing scheme is passed, all short-term lets will need to be licensed by 1st April 2024. One of the proposed conditions of the licensing scheme requires the property to have planning permission or have submitted a planning application.

The consultation began on 2nd September and is open until 5th November 2021. Please do consider visiting the Council’s consultation hub online to give your views on the proposals. Subject to approval by both the Council and the Scottish Government, the ‘control area’ could be in force as soon as April 2022.

Please don’t hesitate to contact Inverleith Ward councillor Max Mitchell by email, max.mitchell@edinburgh.gov.uk, or by phone 0131 529 4409, with any local issues or questions.

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