S6W-13624: Sarah Boyack, Lothian, Scottish Labour, Date Lodged: 05/01/2023
To ask the Scottish Government whether relevant stakeholders, including PLACE and community councils, were consulted before it took the decision to delay the implementation of commercial short-term let licensing by six months.
Answered by Shona Robison: We are not delaying the implementation of commercial short-term let licensing. Licensing schemes opened in October 2022, and new hosts must now apply for, and obtain, a licence before accepting bookings or receiving guests. Local authorities continue to receive applications from new and existing hosts.
In recognition of the wider cost of living crisis that is placing pressure on existing short-term let hosts and businesses, we have announced that we will introduce legislation in January 2023 to extend the deadline for existing hosts to apply for a licence from 1 April 2023 to 1 October 2023.
This is not a pause and we encourage hosts to keep applying throughout.
S6W-13625: Sarah Boyack, Lothian, Scottish Labour, Date Lodged: 05/01/2023
To ask the Scottish Government for what reasons it is delaying the implementation of commercial short-term let licensing by six months.Answered by Shona Robison: I refer the member to the answer to question S6W-13624 on 20 January 2023. All answers to written parliamentary questions are available on the Parliament’s website, the search facility for which can be found at https://www.parliament.scot/chamber-and-committees/written-questions-and-answers