February Update
The Association of Scotland’s Self-Caterers (ASSC), led by Chief Executive Fiona Campbell MBE, continues to work intensively on behalf of members on the issues placing the greatest pressure on Scotland’s self-catering sector.
Our priority remains clear: securing fair, proportionate regulation and policy that supports business viability, protects jobs, and enables long-term investment and sustainability.
Behind every headline issue sits detailed policy work, legal input, and sustained engagement with government and local authorities, and, crucially, the real-world evidence provided by members. It is this combination that gives our advocacy credibility and influence.
Behind the scenes: intensive daily advocacy
Much of this work takes place away from the spotlight, but it is continuous and highly detailed. In recent weeks alone, the ASSC has held meetings with Scottish Government officials, MSPs and industry partners, alongside technical sessions with legal advisers and ongoing engagement with local authorities. This includes analysing valuation data, preparing formal representations, responding to consultations, developing policy positions and coordinating sector-wide evidence gathering.
This sustained, day-to-day advocacy underpins every position we take and ensures that members’ voices are represented clearly and directly at decision-making tables.
Non-Domestic Rates Revaluation – building the evidence case for a pause and reform
We remain deeply concerned about the impact of the 2026 revaluation, with some members facing increases of 400% +. Despite sustained industry pressure resulting in limited relief being announced, the current framework still risks pulling a significant number of self-catering businesses out of the Small Business Bonus Scheme and placing many operations in jeopardy with 1 in 5 businesses saying they will or will consider closing – see press release.
Our focus right now is on assembling a robust, evidence-led case to demonstrate that the revaluation process is fundamentally flawed.
This includes:
- Analysing valuation data across multiple local authority areas
- Gathering member case studies showing real financial impact
- Engaging directly with officials and elected representatives
- Preparing formal representations to challenge outcomes before the February deadline
We are clear: a short-term sticking plaster is not enough. A pause and structural reform are urgently needed, and achieving this depends on credible, detailed evidence from across the sector. Every member contribution strengthens our case for meaningful change.
Member input is critical. Every example of potential increased costs, lost investment, threatened closures or jobs at risk strengthens our position when we sit down with decision-makers.
To support this work, we continue to ask members to:
- Make representations on draft valuation notices
- Write to local councillors, MPs and MSPs (particularly SNP MSPs)
- Engage with local and national media
- Share real-life experiences and share on social media – tag the ASSC please
- Feed concrete data and impacts directly to the ASSC team: communications@assc.co.uk
- If you have not already done so, please share your income and expenditure through our survey here.
Collective visibility matters. The stronger and more unified our evidence base, the harder it becomes to ignore.
Please see the latest guidance for members on Non-Domestic Rates and the Small Business Bonus Scheme here.
Short-term let regulation – pushing back on ineffective policy and building legal preparedness
We continue to challenge inconsistency and unintended consequences within the short-term let licensing and planning system, advocating for proportionate regulation that supports tourism while recognising community needs.
Across Scotland, Planning Control Areas (PCAs) are already in force, emerging or under consultation, while changes to licensing arrangements continue to be introduced at local authority level. Our concern is growing that major regulatory decisions are being made without clear, local evidence that they are achieving their stated aims.
Recent Freedom of Information findings from City of Edinburgh Council confirm that there is no measurable evidence that Edinburgh’s Short-Term Let Planning Control Area introduced in 2022 – has delivered improvements in housing supply, affordability or wider market outcomes.
Despite this, other councils, including Highland and Fife, are actively considering introducing similar control areas.
We have described this as a clear example of regulation introduced without an evidence base and maintained without proof of success. The ASSC is therefore calling for:
- An independent post-implementation review of Edinburgh’s PCA
- An immediate pause on further PCA expansion until transparent, localised evidence is available
- Housing policy to refocus on proven solutions, including new-build delivery and targeted empty homes initiatives
At the same time, we are seeing a growing pattern of systemic failure across multiple local authority areas, including Highland, West Lothian, East Lothian and South Ayrshire, where planning and licensing are being conflated, and decisions are becoming increasingly inconsistent and unpredictable.
We are pressing the Scottish Government for urgent corrective action, including a national moratorium on planning enforcement and immediate amendments to national planning guidance.
However, despite sustained engagement, it is becoming clear that voluntary policy correction alone may not resolve these issues.
On advice from senior counsel and our solicitors, Burness Paull, there is now a credible legal basis for challenge, including concerns around compatibility with the European Convention on Human Rights, particularly protections relating to the peaceful enjoyment of possessions. This advice has been formally put to Ministers, with the legal risks to public authorities clearly set out in writing.
In parallel with ongoing political engagement, we are therefore taking responsible steps to build legal preparedness. This is about ensuring the sector is ready to act collectively, strategically and from a position of strength if formal legal action becomes unavoidable.
We continue building a dedicated legal fund to support this work and will be campaigning across the sector for support for this in the coming weeks.
Alongside this, we continue to call for:
- A national moratorium on enforcement and licensing action affecting existing short -term let businesses
- Engagement under the New Deal for Business to create a coherent, proportionate regulatory framework
- Clear statutory guidance, including consideration of an appropriate use class for short-term letting
This is complex, technical and resource-intensive work, much of it happening behind the scenes – but it is essential to restoring certainty, fairness and confidence for self-catering operators across Scotland.
Member evidence remains critical here. Local examples of inconsistent decisions, enforcement action, financial impact or threatened closures directly strengthen our case and inform both policy engagement and legal strategy.
Visitor Levy – pushing for workable, simpler solutions
The ASSC continues to engage directly with the Scottish Government, local authorities and industry partners on the Visitor Levy.
Over the past year, we have worked closely with colleagues across tourism and with Ivan McKee to argue for a flat, fixed-fee approach rather than complex percentage models.
We welcome progress through the Visitor Levy (Amendment) (Scotland) Bill, which would give councils greater flexibility.
We are continuing to scrutinise the detail to ensure implementation is practical for accommodation providers and does not create unnecessary administrative burden.
Our approach to legal advice and action
Where issues raise legal concerns, we take independent legal advice to fully understand risks, implications and options. This ensures every step we take is proportionate, evidence-led and in the best interests of the wider sector.
Member insight is often essential to this process. When we ask for examples or data, it directly informs legal positioning and policy engagement, helping us build credible, defensible arguments while avoiding unintended consequences.
What you can do now
Advocacy is strongest when members are informed, engaged and visible. You can support this work by:
- Responding to consultations and calls for evidence
- Writing to local councillors, MSPs and MPs
- Engaging with media where appropriate
- Sharing ASSC updates and messaging through your own networks
- Providing real-world examples and data to the ASSC team
Every action – no matter how small – strengthens our collective case.
Additional advocacy activity behind the scenes
Alongside major policy priorities, we are also progressing a wide range of technical issues affecting day-to-day operations, including:
- Music licensing, working with PPL PRS on updated guidance
- Changes to Energy Performance Certificates and sector implications – latest guidance here
- Wider regulatory compliance
- Preparation for Making Tax Digital – latest guidance here
Much of this activity happens quietly, but it is essential in reducing pressure on businesses and protecting members from unintended regulatory impacts.
Support our advocacy work
This advocacy is only possible through ASSC membership and contributions to our Advocacy Fund.
If you are not currently a member, joining strengthens our collective voice and ensures you are represented on the issues shaping the future of self-catering.
If membership is not right for you at this time, you can still support our work by donating to the ASSC Advocacy Fund, helping resource policy engagement, legal advice and evidence-based campaigning.
👉 Join the ASSC or support our advocacy work here
