18/10/2023

Media Update: Short-Term Let Regulations & Tourism News – October 2023

As the deadline for Short-Term Let (STL) Licence application deadline has passed, Scotland’s STL community continues to garner significant media attention, being prominently featured in the press, TV, and other media outlets.

The ASSC remains steadfast in its advocacy for Proportionate, Justifiable and Targeted Regulation. Regrettably, the current framework falls short, and policies across Scotland have been declared unlawful. Nevertheless, our pursuit of a better solution persists…

Below, you’ll find a compilation of the most recent media coverage on this issue and other related tourism news.

Stay informed about the latest developments by engaging with us on our social media platforms: Twitter, LinkedIn, and Facebook. Join the conversation today!

Tuesday 17th October 2023

Monday 16th October 2023

13th October 2023

Landlord Today, New App allows activists to complain about Airbnb-style short lets

October 12th 2023

Evening News, STL exodus could spell the end for golden egg-laying tourism goose – John McLellan
Edinburgh Live, East Lothian homeowner granted holiday let licence despite objections over shared parking

October 11th 2023

Tourism

Daily Telegraph, Why Scotland is struggling to attract English visitors,

Visitor Levy

Strathspey & Badenoch Herald, EDWARD MOUNTAIN: Visitor Levy would ‘make business owners unofficial tax collectors’

October 10th 2023

Glasgow Times, Bid to turn Glasgow flat into short term let for tourists refused

October 9th 2023

Press & Journal, New app makes it easier to challenge Highlands and islands short-term lets
Times, Airbnb guests invited to spend the night in Shrek’s swamp
STV News, First look inside the real life Shrek’s Swamp hidden in the Highlands

October 8th 2023

Inverness Courier, YOUR VIEWS: Fears licensing woes will create more trouble ahead for Highland businesses

October 7th 2023

We Love Stornoway, Stampede to get short-term-lets licences in time

October 6th 2023

Stornoway Gazette, Scale of isles short-term lets sector now emerges
National, Why I started an app to fight short-term lets in Scotland
Evening News, Edinburgh short-term lets: Consent refused for historic Holyrood park lodges owned by Scottish Ministers
Scottish Daily Express, SNP ministers left red-faced as holiday lodges owned by quango to be left vacant due to short-term let restrictions
STV News, ‘Party flats’ blamed for ‘draconian’ approach to short term holiday lets
East Lothian Courier, We’re not like Edinburgh ‘party flats’, holiday let applicants argue
Edinburgh Live, Edinburgh ‘party flats’ blamed for East Lothian crackdown on holiday lets

October 5th 2023

Aberdeen Live, Storied Braemar hotel to be revived as serviced apartments scheme approved
Caithness Business Index, Have You Got Short-term Letting Licenses Sorted – Possible £2500 Fines
STV News, Cabbie’s garage short-term let refused over ‘party flat’ fears
Edinburgh Reporter, STL licence refused despite claims it would not be a party flat
STV News, Airbnb owner wins appeal over ‘communal entrance’ in ‘quiet’ community

Tourism

Press & Journal, VisitScotland boss Malcolm Roughead answers our tourism questions
Holyrood Magazine, Associate Feature: Tourism: on the right track

October 4th 2023

Caithness Business Index, Short-term Lets Now Require To Show License Number In All Adverts And Listings
Edinburgh Live, Edinburgh local in posh neighbourhood told he can’t turn garage into holiday let

Tourism

Press & Journal, Big marketing push for north and north-east tourism delights

October 3rd 2023

28th – 30th September 2023

Scottish Business News, https://scottishbusinessnews.net/assc-poll-paints-bleak-picture-while-humza-yousaf-turns-his-back-on-tourism/
Scotsman, https://www.scotsman.com/business/consumer/short-term-lets-scotland-operators-reminded-of-grace-period-as-snap-survey-shows-a-third-of-operators-have-not-applied-for-licence-4354588
Herald, https://www.heraldscotland.com/business_hq/23823828.scotlands-short-term-lets-clampdown-just-206-edinburgh/https://www.pressreader.com/uk/scottish-daily-mail/20230930/page/10
Times, https://www.thetimes.co.uk/article/66d4bd20-5ee3-11ee-a79d-c051d35b818f?shareToken=28f050f77a2e1efb46f045956c97f6ae
BBC, https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-scotland-scotland-business-66955744
Scotsman, https://www.scotsman.com/news/politics/short-term-let-licensing-about-safety-not-increasing-home-availability-housing-minister-4352825?r=2854
Insider, https://www.insider.co.uk/news/new-landlord-requirements-could-big-31059923
Scotsman,https://www.scotsman.com/news/opinion/columnists/tourist-tax-on-cruise-ship-passengers-visiting-islands-and-other-parts-of-scotland-is-absolutely-justified-kenny-macaskill-4350688
BBC (short-term lets vote mentioned towards to end),https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-scotland-scotland-politics-66951120
Press and Journal, https://www.pressandjournal.co.uk/fp/politics/6198560/why-was-fergus-ewing-suspended/
Good Morning Scotland, Main piece from Douglas Fraser starts and restarts from 2:43. https://www.bbc.co.uk/sounds/play/m001qvqx
Edinburgh Evening News, https://www.edinburghnews.scotsman.com/news/politics/council/edinburgh-tourist-tax-festival-cast-and-crews-should-be-exempt-from-tourist-tax-say-festival-bosses-4351432
The Times, https://www.thetimes.co.uk/article/fd0c4c18-5d53-11ee-88d6-eacc4268cc5d?shareToken=62b83128ccd5dc9354f0eda4e10222fa
Any Uak Media, https://anyuakmedia.com/error-sees-ministers-vote-against-scottish-government-on-short-term-lets/
Daily Express,https://www.scottishdailyexpress.co.uk/news/politics/snp-governments-tourist-tax-force-31045250
Daily Record, https://www.dailyrecord.co.uk/news/local-news/waiting-lists-homes-west-lothian-31052734
Short Term Rentalz, https://shorttermrentalz.com/news/scotland-homes-unbuilt-letting-crackdown/

Tourism

Scotsman, https://www.scotsman.com/news/opinion/columnists/tourist-tax-on-cruise-ship-passengers-visiting-islands-and-other-parts-of-scotland-is-absolutely-justified-kenny-macaskill-4350688

21st – 25th September 2023

Herald, Scotland’s short-term lets tourism law legal obligations row
Press & Journal, Eleanor Bradford: Badly thought-out short-term let licences might help Edinburgh while killing tourism in the north
Courier, Perth siblings lose bid to rent out £285k Birnam new-build as holiday let
Courier, Short-term lets: Fife control zone bid back up for debate within weeks
Scotsman, Julia Armour: How we can avoid a final flowering of Scotland’s arts and culture
Scottish Daily Express, SNP’s madcap short-term letting plans could penalise mountain climbers as chorus for delaying them grow
Herald, Humza Yousaf lambasted by Scottish tourism business leader
Sunday Times, Why Scotland and Wales have got it wrong on holiday lets
National, AirBnB could bypass lobbying rules to ‘mislead MSPs’
Herald, First Minister Humza Yousaf responds to tourism law call
Scotsman, Scottish Government must nurture the tourism sector, not regulate and tax it into the ground – Scotsman comment
Scotsman, Short-term let restrictions: How let restrictions have impacted on New York and what it could mean for Scotland
Independent, Cruel puppy-smuggling gangs use posh Airbnbs to trick buyers
Strathspey & Badenoch Herald, Don’t throw baby out with the bath water for short term lettings
Scottish Daily Express, Humza Yousaf pro-business boasts in tatters after he rebuffs last-gasp plea to pause damaging short-term lets law
Daily Mail, The SNP is launching draconian new rules for landlords. So what, you say? Just wait till you go to book that lovely B&B again for next summer… and find it shut for good
Insider, MSPs urge Lord Advocate to assess legality of short-term let regulations
Ardrossan Herald, MSP Jamie Greene on holiday lets and more ferry problems
Greenock Telegraph, Short-term lets operators urged to join scheme by deadline

Tourism

Glasgow Times, Plan to lure more tourists spending more cash to Glasgow