The owner of an Angus agritourism destination says she fears for the future of her business amid new fees and rules for short-term lets.
Caroline Millar, owner of The Hideaway Experience, believes the new Scottish Government laws could derail her flourishing Auchterhouse business.
Speaking at a meeting of Angus Council’s civic licencing board, Ms Millar criticised the blanket approach and said elements, such as constraints on evening noise levels, shouldn’t apply to her rural business.
Intended to address continuing growth in the rental sector due to operators such as Airbnb, the new regulations were passed in the Scottish Parliament in January and came into force in March.
Residents in some areas of Scotland have been complaining of anti-social behaviour for some time as homes are let out to rowdy groups.
Concerns over liability of business
Speaking at the committee on Thursday, Ms Millar said: “My particular concern is the short-term lets is a one size fits all, blanket approach.
“It’s obviously designed to address particular issues in parts of the country such as city centres.
“It’s going to impact our business significantly, not just from the increased cost of the licences.
“The option that they couldn’t use a hot tub or a barbecue after 9pm, or someone couldn’t arrive back from Dundee after 11pm…
“If they were applied to our business they would put us out of business.”
How much will a licence cost?
All short-term let operators are required to have a licence by July 1 2024.
The board is required to bring in a policy to ensure this and agreed to adopt proposed fees of £349 for a three-year licence on a property capable of hosting up to five guests and £588 on one for more than 20 guests.
Members also committed to reviewing these terms no later than July 2024.
Councils across Scotland must apply the licensing system locally for such properties by October 1, when licence applications can be submitted.
These must be submitted by April 1 next year, but businesses can continue operating during the process.
‘What’s mandatory and discretionary?’
George Meechan, SNP councillor for Kirriemuir and Dean, said of the committee’s report: “It would have been nice to see exactly what was mandatory and what was discretionary. That would have made it easier for us.
“On the discretionary, there’s quite a bit in there that wouldn’t apply to a rural situation.”
The councillor highlighted that using a hot tub in a rural location is “not going to bother anyone” and said it would be useful to know whether this could be removed on a case-by-case basis.
Brenda Durno, the committee convener and SNP councillor for Arbroath East and Lunan, said: “Obviously, discretionary by property-by-property basis is what we’re looking for here.
“I don’t know whether anybody can answer that question at the moment.”
‘Detrimentally impact lives’
Also attending the online meeting was Fiona Campbell, chief executive of The Association of Scotland’s Self-Caterers.
She said: “This piece of legislation is going to detrimentally impact the lives and livelihoods of our members.
“We’re in the middle of a cost of living crisis. Any additional cost associated with this legislation is going to be hugely damaging to small businesses.”
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