ASSC Publishes New Housing Evidence Briefing Calling for Policy Reset

The Association of Scotland’s Self-Caterers (ASSC) has today published a new policy briefing, Scotland’s Housing Challenge: Rebalancing the Evidence, calling for a more evidence-led approach to housing policy and a renewed focus on the structural causes of Scotland’s housing emergency.

The briefing has been shared with Scottish Ministers, MSPs and policymakers and examines the latest Scottish Government housing statistics, short-term let licensing data and independent research into Scotland’s housing and tourism sectors.

While recognising the significant housing challenges facing Scotland, the report concludes that the evidence points overwhelmingly towards structural issues such as housing supply, affordability, social housing demand and underutilised housing stock.

It also examines whether extensive regulatory intervention affecting Scotland’s self-catering sector has delivered the housing benefits often cited in support of such measures.

ASSC Chief Executive Fiona Campbell MBE said:

“Housing pressures are real and deserve serious policy attention. However, good policymaking requires evidence, proportionality and a willingness to assess whether interventions are actually delivering the outcomes they were intended to achieve.”

“Over the last four years, Scotland has introduced one of the most comprehensive regulatory frameworks for short-term lets in Europe. Yet the evidence continues to show falling housing supply, rising social housing waiting lists and ongoing affordability pressures.”

“The question policymakers must now ask is simple: where is the evidence that intervention in the self-catering sector has delivered meaningful housing benefits?”

The briefing highlights that:

• Scotland’s housing challenges are primarily structural in nature.
• There remains no robust national evidence demonstrating a causal relationship between restrictions on self-catering accommodation and improved housing outcomes.
• Vacant homes and second homes significantly outnumber secondary short-term lets.
• Not all licenced short-term lets represent conventional residential housing stock capable of contributing to long-term housing supply.
• Future policy should focus on interventions most likely to deliver measurable housing outcomes.

The paper also sets out a series of constructive recommendations, including increasing housing supply, bringing empty homes back into productive use, strengthening the evidence base underpinning future interventions, reviewing the effectiveness of Planning Control Areas and considering a national Use Class Order for self-catering accommodation.

Rather than revisiting debates of the past, the ASSC believes Scotland now has an opportunity to focus on practical, evidence-led solutions that support both housing objectives and sustainable tourism.

“We are not arguing against action on housing. We are arguing for action that is most likely to work”.

“Scotland’s housing challenges require structural solutions. Future policy should be guided by outcomes, evidence and proportionality, ensuring effort is focused where it can deliver the greatest benefit for communities.”

The briefing forms part of the ASSC’s wider housing and planning policy work.

For a full summary of the evidence, key findings and ASSC policy recommendations, visit our dedicated policy page.

You can also download the full briefing paper below.