The Scottish Bed & Breakfast Association (SB&BA) has written to the First Minister Humza Yousaf calling for an intervention to save thousands of small tourism accommodation businesses in Scotland by pausing the introduction of short-term let licensing.
The SB&BA says that the new licensing scheme, which is due to come into force on 1 October 2023, will be too costly and onerous for many small businesses, and will force many of them to close.
The association says that the scheme will disproportionately impact small businesses, as it will exempt large-scale operators such as aparthotels. This, the SB&BA says, will give these larger operators an unfair advantage and lead to a decline in the number of small, independent B&Bs in Scotland.
The SB&BA also argues that the scheme will do nothing to address the government’s concerns about housing affordability, as it will not prevent people from using their homes as short-term lets.
In a letter to the First Minister, SB&BA chairman David Weston said: “The introduction of short-term let licensing will be catastrophic for Scotland’s tourism industry and those who depend on it.
“Hosts, local shops, restaurants, entertainment venues and many more Scottish businesses will all suffer if a significant number of B&Bs and small holiday let businesses are forced to close.
“Scotland won’t have a tourism industry if the very accommodation needed to welcome international visitors is decimated.”
The SB&BA is urging the First Minister to pause the introduction of the short-term let licensing scheme and to work with the association to develop a more sustainable solution that protects both the tourism industry and the housing market.
Battle over short-term lets as licensing deadline nears
The battle over short-term lets in Scotland is heating up as the deadline for landlords to apply for a licence nears.
The Scottish Government introduced a new licensing scheme for short-term lets in 2022, in a bid to regulate the sector and address concerns about noise, anti-social behaviour and the impact on housing affordability.
The scheme requires all landlords who let out their properties for short-term stays of less than 90 days to apply for a licence.
The deadline for applying for a licence is 1 October 2023.
However, the Scottish Bed & Breakfast Association (SB&BA) has warned that many small businesses will be unable to comply with the new regulations, and that the scheme will force many of them to close.
The SB&BA says that the scheme is too costly and onerous for many small businesses, and that it will disproportionately impact small businesses, as it will exempt large-scale operators such as aparthotels.
The association is urging the Scottish Government to pause the introduction of the scheme and to work with the industry to develop a more sustainable solution.
The Scottish Government has defended the new scheme, saying that it is necessary to regulate the short-term let sector and to protect communities.
The government has said that it will provide financial support to help businesses comply with the new regulations.
The battle over short-term lets is likely to continue in the coming months, as the deadline for applying for a licence approaches.
The outcome of the battle will have a significant impact on the future of the short-term let sector in Scotland.
Two thirds of Scottish B&Bs at risk of closure over licensing rules
A new survey has found that two thirds of Scottish B&Bs are at risk of closure due to the new short-term let licensing rules.
The survey, conducted by the Scottish Bed & Breakfast Association (SB&BA), found that 61% of B&B owners are considering shutting their doors in response to the new rules, which come into force on 1 October 2023.
The SB&BA says that the new rules are too costly and onerous for many small businesses, and that they will disproportionately impact small businesses, as they will exempt large-scale operators such as aparthotels.
The association is urging the Scottish Government to pause the introduction of the new rules and to work with the industry to develop a more sustainable solution.
The survey also found that:
- 70% of B&B owners believe that the new rules will have a negative impact on tourism in Scotland.
- 60% of B&B owners believe that the new rules will lead to job losses in the tourism industry.
- 50% of B&B owners believe that the new rules will make it more difficult for people to find affordable housing in Scotland.
The SB&BA’s survey is the latest in a series of warnings about the impact of the new short-term let licensing rules.
In July, the Scottish Tourism Alliance said that the rules would “decimate” the tourism industry in Scotland.
And in August, the Federation of Small Businesses said that the rules would “put thousands of jobs at risk”.
The Scottish Government has defended the new rules, saying that they are necessary to regulate the short-term let sector and to protect communities.
The government has said that it will provide financial support to help businesses comply with the new regulations.
However, the SB&BA and other industry groups have said that the financial support is not enough, and that the new rules will still force many businesses to close.
The battle over short-term lets in Scotland is likely to continue in the coming months, as the deadline for applying for a licence approaches.
The outcome of the battle will have a significant impact on the future of the short-term let sector in Scotland, and on the tourism industry as a whole.
