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Inverness and surrounding area could get short-term let control zones

Andrew ThomsonBBC Scotland
News imageGetty Images A view across Inverness city centre towards the Kessock Bridge and the Black Isle on a beautiful sunny day.Getty Images
Councillors have agreed plans should be made for a control zone for Inverness and another for the surrounding area

Restrictions on Airbnb-style let accommodation in the Inverness area are to be considered following concerns about their impact on local communities.

Councillors on Highland Council's Inverness city committee heard that a high rate of homes being converted into short-term lets was adding to the "significant pressure" already being felt in parts of the local housing market.

They agreed a process of setting up short-term let control zones should start.

The move, which could result in planning permission being needed for any new let, has been criticised by the Association of Scotland's Self Caterers.

According to a report presented to the committee there are 1,508 potential permanent dwellings in the Inverness area being used as short-term lets.

In the city centre more than 15% of potential homes are short-term lets while the figure is more than 27% in the Fort Augustus and Invermoriston areas.

Two separate control zones could be established, one covering the city of Inverness, the other the surrounding rural areas.

News imageA view across the river ness on a winter's day. We can see the river in the foreground with Inverness Cathedral in the background surrounded by snow covered streets.
In Inverness City centre more than 15% of pontential homes are now short term lets

Inverness Central Labour councillor Michael Gregson said action was needed to stop new builds being converted straight into holiday lets.

He said there were currently only 20 homes for long-term rent in the city and people were struggling to find a place to live.

He said short-term lets were having a "big impact" on the character of the Hill and Crown areas of the city where he claimed entire streets were "dominated by key safes not homes".

"We are dealing with a lot of complaints," said Mr Gregson.

"There is a build-up of inappropriate waste, parking issues. In some places we are definitely at saturation point."

Highland Council has already set up a control zone in Badenoch and Strathspey and is considering rolling them out in several other areas.

The Association of Scotland's Self-Caterers said it would be a mistake to extend the policy elsewhere until there was clear and unambiguous evidence that it was working.

Chief executive Fiona Campbell warned there was a danger of unintended consequences.

She said: "This plan scapegoats responsible local businesses while doing nothing to address the real issues underlying housing challenges: be it second homes, the increasing number of economically inactive empty properties and lack of housing supply."