A group of Perth residents say new laws on short-term holiday lets “can’t come soon enough” after months of problems with “party flats”.
The Scottish Government has passed legislation requiring all owners of holiday accommodation to be licensed by October 1.
As things stand, landlords do not require a licence to host holiday lets.
Locals claim several blocks in Perth city centre are becoming hotspots for anti-social behaviour as they are being constantly let out to rowdy groups.
Residents ‘shown no respect’
Stewart Miller, a landlord who has long-term tenants at Howards Court, says the industry needs to be better regulated to crack down on “party flats”.
He said: “Regulations can’t come soon enough.
“There is a plan for a new holiday let in my building, but our title deeds state that if the majority of residents do not want this, we can block it.
“That is exactly what I plan to do. I am looking at holding a meeting to straighten this all out.
“I’ve had tenants who have lived in buildings like these and they’ve been shown no respect. It’s an utter disgrace.”
Kat Livingston, 53, who lives Monart Court, says she has experienced parties “at all hours” in her block because of holiday lets.
She said: “People have been shouting and screaming, I’ve found cigarette butts on the stairs and people have been placing glass bottles in my bin.
‘Dreadful’ noise from holiday lets
“This whole thing has been so distressing. There are no rules with these places, and people suffer. I am just feeling completely fed up with it all.”
Mark Cook, a resident of the city’s Lade Walk area, says noise in his block linked to holiday lets has been “dreadful”.
He said: “We’ve had so much trouble with them recently and have not been getting much sleep.
“I have had to go and collect rubbish from my bins that is not mine and enough is enough.”
Meanwhile, Bruce Mackay, a resident in the city centre who has also been campaigning for tighter rules, believes the regulations will help the wider rental market.
He said: “Holiday lets are reducing stock of rental properties in Perth for local people. It is a huge problem in the community.
“These unregulated properties are undercutting locals.”
Avey Mohammed, who runs A&S Properties in Perth, says not all landlords are ignoring the concerns of locals.
He said: “I’ve been running holiday lets and longer-term rentals for years now and I make sure I properly check every single person looking to rent from me.
‘Many do it to make a quick buck’
“There have been issues due to the lack of legislation, whereby anyone can just become a landlord, and many just do it to make a quick buck.
“Whenever someone books a holiday unit from me, I call them to assess what the situation is, like what kind of person they are, and how large their party will be.
“I really think these new regulations will mean that there will be more control over who can become a landlord and how holiday lets can be run.”
Perth and Kinross Council is currently consulting on how the new regulations will be imposed in the region – though concerns have been raised about how staff will cope with the level of applications.
It has also been claimed the move could hit the Scottish economy.
A spokesperson said: “The licensing scheme is being introduced to ensure short term lets are safe, address issues faced by neighbours and to help us address complaints effectively.
“It also allows us to ensure the people providing short-term lets are suitable.
“On September 21, Perth and Kinross and Angus Councils will, in association with the Association of Scotland Self Caterers, host a virtual event for prospective licence holders.”
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