Rachael Hamilton has branded new licensing regulations on self-catering lets ‘inappropriate’ after the pressures placed upon the industry as a result of the Covid-19 pandemic.
Following months of uncertainty, a lack of grant funding and new restrictions, the short term let industry, which includes self-catering properties and holiday cottages, has struggled through the challenging times brought about by Covid-19 restrictions.
The Scottish Government has created new regulations, that if passed by the Scottish Parliament, would come into force by April 2021. They are set to introduce a licensing scheme which many in the industry have been critical of in recent times.
The Local Government and Communities Committee recently voted to recommend that the Scottish Government’s Short-Term Let Control Areas Regulations and Licensing Order be approved, the latter being secured by the narrowest of margins. Many Scottish Conservative MSPs identified serious flaws and voted against the plans.
MSPs have raised issues with the scope of the regulations, as small B&Bs will be captured by the new licensing regime. The Scottish Government’s Short-Term Let Delivery Group failed to consult with the B&B sector and this has led to this unintended consequence.
Mrs Hamilton believes now is not the time for a Scotland-wide blanket licensing scheme, and believes the new rules, if they are approved, will ‘hit the industry whilst it is on its knees.’
She has called on the Scottish Government to halt the implementation and reconsider a proposal for a registration scheme favoured by many in the industry.
Rachael Hamilton MSP said:
“These new regulations on the licensing of short term lets are wholly inappropriate just now, given that self-catering businesses have experienced the worst year for income and guests.
“To implement these rules would be a massive kick in the teeth to an industry that has done its utmost to ensure it complies with Covid safety procedures.
“There are pressures in city centres, such as Edinburgh with short term lets, but many constituents who run self-catering lets or B&Bs in the Borders are very concerned at the implications of the licensing scheme for them.
“We need to see the SNP Government to halt the progress of these new regulations immediately, as to progress with these regulations will be catastrophic for an industry that is already on its knees”.
In a letter to Ms Hamilton, Fiona Campbell, CEO of Association of Scotland’s Self-Caterers said:
“The traditional self-catering sector is not averse to regulation and have been at the forefront of presenting comprehensive and robust set of policy recommendations that have been shared with government.
“Since September 2020 alone, Frontline Consultants estimated that the Scottish self-catering sector lost over £265 due to Covid-19 restrictions and these SSIs have the potential to merely compound these difficulties.
“As shown by our survey, nearly half (49%) of operators would leave the self-catering sector if the proposed licensing scheme was introduced. This will be devastating for Scottish tourism at a time when we should be supporting business for a sustainable recovery.
“It is our preference that the Scottish Government would move to withdraw the Regulations so that better ones could be laid in the next parliamentary session.
“We implore you [MSPs] to vote against the SSIs and work with us to devise world-leading regulations that work for all – small business, tourism and local communities”.