Leading trade body issues call ahead of Council consideration of short-term let curbs and visitor levy
The Association of Scotland’s Self-Caterers (ASSC) has urged Perth & Kinross councillors to take an evidence-led approach when considering proposals for both a visitor levy and a short-term let planning control area this week.
Ahead of Wednesday’s Council meeting, the ASSC has circulated a detailed briefing to elected members highlighting a number of economic, legal and practical questions that it believes remain unanswered.
The organisation is not opposing action to address local challenges but is asking councillors to focus on a simple question: will these proposals actually work and meaningfully address the problems they are intended to solve?
The visitor economy plays a vital role across Perth and Kinross, supporting approximately 7,000 jobs, generating around £364m in visitor expenditure and contributing approximately £324m in Gross Value Added to the local economy.Perth and Kinross Council is being asked to consider a visitor levy expected to generate between £6-10m annually, alongside proposals for a planning control area covering short-term lets.
The ASSC briefing also highlights questions around the proposed Planning Control Area. According to the Council’s own report, Perth and Kinross has approximately 1,767 secondary short-term lets. National Records of Scotland figures show there are approximately 76,762 dwellings across the local authority area, meaning secondary lets account for just 2.3% of the housing stock.
The ASSC has raised concerns about the risk of imposing additional planning costs on existing lawful operators without any clear evidence that doing so would deliver corresponding housing benefits.
Whether on short-term lets or a visitor levy, the organisation says that any decision should be based on evidence, outcomes and the interests of all constituents.
ASSC Chief Executive Fiona Campbell MBE said:
“These are important decisions that will affect communities, businesses, jobs and investment across Perth and Kinross. Councillors represent residents seeking access to housing, but they also represent tourism businesses, employees, local suppliers, high streets and the many families whose livelihoods depend on a thriving visitor economy. These decisions should not be determined by assumption, perception or political preference alone. They should be determined by the evidence available and by the likely impact on the people and communities Members represent. Good policy is not measured by the scale of intervention, but by the quality of the outcomes it delivers.”
Specifically, on the visitor levy:
“The Council’s report identifies the number of short-term lets, but it does not explain what level would be considered acceptable, how many properties would need to leave the sector, or how success would be measured. If the objective is to improve housing affordability and availability, councillors should be asking what measurable housing benefit is expected, by how much, and over what timescale.”