Plans for short term let control areas in Argyll and Bute have been attacked by a national tourism group.
A report to be considered by councillors today says that only 200 licences for short term let accommodation have been issued in the area so far.
And referring to the declaration of a ‘housing emergency’ in Argyll and Bute earlier this year, a senior councillor said any decision on introducing control areas would be ‘evidence-based’.
But the Association of Scotland’s Self-Caterers (ASCC) has hit back, saying such a move would not be a magic bullet’ to improve a housing crisis.
The group’s chief executive Fiona Campbell said: “Short-term lets have been a mainstay of the local tourism market for decades, providing a popular alternative to more traditional offerings like hotels, while benefitting related businesses in the area through guest spend.
“The prospect of a short term let control area by Argyll and Bute Council would come at the worst possible time for operators and the ASSC does not believe there is a sufficient evidence base to proceed with such a policy.”
She added that data should include the number of self-catering businesses (some of which are on non-domestic rates and therefore not considered residential properties), the number of second homes and the number of empty homes, seen within a context of the total number of dwellings, population, demographic changes and actual housing need.
“Small businesses like self-catering should not be used as a convenient scapegoat for wider failures in housing policy,” she said.
“Neither licensing nor planning policies will result in a glut of affordable homes to buy or rent and anyone suggesting otherwise is raising false hopes.
“We have to build our way out of this crisis, as well tackling the increasing number of empty homes, as opposed to shutting down indigenous self-catering businesses which will only decimate local livelihoods and harm our tourist economy.”
Councils have the power to designate control areas to manage high concentrations of short-term lets.
Edinburgh became Scotland’s first designated short-term let control area last year.
In control areas planning permission is needed to change the use of a house or flat.
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