The Association of Scotland’s Self-Caterers (ASSC) continues to drive forward a focused programme of policy and legal work designed to secure fair, proportionate and workable regulation for Scotland’s self-catering sector. Current activity spans short-term let licensing, planning, visitor levies, non-domestic rates amd more, with an emphasis on evidence-based reform and practical solutions that support responsible operators and the wider visitor economy.
The ASSC is challenging areas of legal and procedural concern within the current licensing regime, including potential ECHR incompatibility and disproportionate local authority approaches. Active engagement includes formal submissions to the Civic Government (Scotland) Act 1982 Task Force, challenge work with The Highland Council on licence renewals, opposition to proposed fee recharging by Argyll & Bute Council, and submission to Highland Council regarding the Skye Planning Control Area and its impact on self-catering operators. Work is also progressing to enable digital display of licensing and compliance information, supporting transparency and consistency across Scotland.
The ASSC is examining the legal alignment of City of Edinburgh Council’s proposed Housing and Tourism Mitigation Fund with the Visitor Levy (Scotland) Act 2024 to ensure clarity, accountability and legislative coherence, with a focus on practical and sustainable outcomes for tourism communities.
The ASSC is working with Angus MacDonald MP to advocate for assessor communications to be issued by email, improving efficiency, reducing administrative burden and modernising engagement for self-catering businesses.
The ASSC will continue to champion evidence-based reform, digital efficiency and proportionate regulation that protects responsible operators and supports a thriving visitor economy.