Scottish Government Short-Term Let Licensing Implementation Update Report

The Scottish Government have published their STL Licensing Implementation Update Report. It can be accessed here.

The Scottish Government stated that its purpose was to:

• report on initial short-term let licence application levels across Scotland;
• consider current operational processes; and
• identify operational improvements, where appropriate, and update previously published impact assessments with actual data in place of estimated information, where available.

In terms of actions arising from the report, the Scottish Government intend to:

• Instruct VisitScotland to take forward an Expert Group to suggest changes to licensing and planning guidance. The aim will be to publish revised guidance in Spring 2025;
• Possibly undertake further public consultation next year; and
• Continue to monitor STL licensing in a proportionate manner by: (a) continuing to collect and consider insights from a range of data sources; (b) periodically reviewing their own short-term lets licensing data collection; (c) continuing stakeholder engagement; and (d) providing an update on the implementation of short-term let licensing in 2025.

Overall, the Scottish Government believes it is “too early” to assess the impact of the licensing scheme “given the short period of time [it] has been in place.” The report also shows that they still do not have reliable and robust figures for the number of short-term lets in Scotland and there are a number of questionable statements made. To take one example: “Data obtained from planning authorities does not indicate that planning is hindering determination of licence applications.”

The ASSC takes issue with many aspects of this report and will continue to engage with the Scottish Government on this and other issues to ensure a sustainable future for our industry.

Fiona Campbell, CEO of the Association of Scotland’s Self-Caterers, commented:

“This implementation update report is complacent and does not accord with the lived experience of many small business owners whose livelihoods are at risk due to the government’s regulations, particularly with the interaction between planning and the licensing scheme.

Positive and meaningful dialogue is always welcome but yet more talking and tinkering around the edges won’t save businesses at threat of closure. For that we require concrete action to address the outstanding challenges that industry have identified and to take forward the fair, balanced and legally sound solutions which will make the regulations work for all. We cannot keep kicking the can down the road while jobs in Scotland’s vital tourism industry are at stake.”