Press Release: Major Short-Term Lets Survey Launched

A wide-ranging new survey which aims to get a complete picture of Scotland’s short-term let sector has been announced.
The Association of Scotland’s Self-Caterers (ASSC) has commissioned the Moffat Centre for Travel and Tourist Development at Glasgow Caledonian University to conduct the research into the industry.

The survey has been sponsored by Sykes Cottages, the UK’s leading and fastest-growing independent holiday cottage rental agency.

Academics and experts from the Moffat Centre have been asked to undertake a review and baseline evaluation of the sector, including running this survey, ahead of the introduction of short-term let licensing and its review by the Scottish Government next year.  Stakeholders from across Scotland’s vibrant and innovating short-term letting sector will be invited to take part in the questionnaire, which was officially launched at the ASSC’s Regulations Roadshow on Skye.

The roadshow forms part of a series of events the ASSC is holding which will help businesspeople in the sector understand and become better informed about short-term let licensing.

The ASSC, and its partners including Sykes Cottages, are grateful to the Moffat Centre and looks forward to seeing the results which will help shape the industry’s approach going forward.

Association of Scotland’s Self-Caterers Chief Executive, Fiona Campbell, said: 

“The ASSC has always been committed to providing an evidence base to help better inform discussions around short-term letting. 

“We are therefore thrilled that such a respected academic centre will now provide an independent review and baseline evaluation of the short-term let sector in Scotland.”

“This is a subject of considerable importance with new licensing and planning regulations affecting the sector and as we look ahead to a sustainable, post-pandemic future for our industry.” 

“We would strongly encourage as many short-term let operators as possible to engage with the Moffat Centre as they take forward this valuable study.”

Joanna Millar, Legal Director at Gilson Gray and short term let legal expert, said:

“The importance of the information the Moffat report will provide cannot be underestimated.

“This will assist licensing authorities in identifying the number of short term let licence applications they can expect, therefore, based on the need for authorities to be self-funding, establish a fee which is realistic for applicants and authorities alike.

“It will also provide empirical data which will be relevant to planning control zones and may assist in identifying where these are not, in fact, needed due to differing numbers and types of short term lets than the Scottish Government have presumed operate in Scotland.

“The ASSC and Sykes should be commended for taking the lead in this”

A Sykes Holiday Cottages spokesperson said:

“This programme of research presents a great opportunity for us to get an accurate and detailed picture of what is going on in Scottish self-catering.

“With our friends at the ASSC and the experts at the Moffat Centre behind it, we’re sure we’ll end up with some incredibly useful data that can inform policy in the future.

“We hope that as many short-term let operators as possible participate in the survey and we would encourage them to do so.”

A photograph from the ASSC Regulations Roadshow in Skye at the launch (L-R):

Fiona Campbell, CEO, ASSC, Adrienne Carmichael, Chair, ASSC, Joanna Millar, Legal Director, Gilson Gray, Clare Winskill, Director ASSC and SkyeConnect