Perthshire rejects short-term let control zone.

Perth & Kinross Council has made a decision on the proposed short-term let control area, with an outcome that has left many people divided.

A recent council report advised the establishment of a short-term let control area in Highland Perthshire and the northern part of Eastern Perthshire. This move, if approved, would have aligned Perth & Kinross Council with other councils like Edinburgh and Highland who have already utilised the 2021 legislation to designate such areas where necessary.

Under this proposal, homeowners would have been required to obtain planning permission before offering their properties as holiday rentals on popular platforms like Airbnb and Booking.com. Proponents argued that this measure was crucial in combating the shortage of affordable housing in highland Perthshire and parts of eastern Perthshire.

Despite these claims, the council’s environment and infrastructure committee ultimately rejected the plan with a close vote of eight against seven on Wednesday.

Fiona Campbell, CEO of the Association of Scotland’s Self-Caterers (ASSC), expressed relief at the decision, stating, “We are pleased that common sense has prevailed. The plans did not strike the appropriate regulatory balance and would have led to the closure of many small businesses – hitting the local economy in the process – without achieving the apparent policy objectives.”

She added, “Short-term lets cannot continue to be used as a convenient scapegoat for much wider housing challenges. Closing down small businesses in Perth & Kinross would not lead to a glut of affordable homes as today’s vote recognized.”

“The ASSC wants to ensure a fair and proportionate approach for business, tourism, and communities and we will work constructively with Perth & Kinross Council to achieve that end.”