A council could use the planning system to control the number of houses turned into Airbnb-style vacation rentals in part of the Cairngorms National Park.
The proposed plans come amid concerns that the ‘massive increase’ in short-term rentals in Badenoch and Strathspey has ‘seriously affected’ the local housing market.
Highland Council official Bill Lobban said the surge in short-term rentals in Badenoch and Strathspey had “seriously affected” the local housing market. Mr Lobban, alongside other advisers, said changing accommodation to short-term rental should require planning permission. This type of consent is currently not a requirement.
In a vote yesterday, Highland councilors unanimously backed a call for a draft proposal to create a short-term rental control area in Badenoch and Strathspey. The plan is expected to be approved by the Scottish government before moving forward.
Mr Lobban said tourism was important to the Highlands, but there was an ‘oversupply’ of short-term rentals in some places. He said that made it difficult for people living and working in the area to find homes. The councilor added there were likely to be similar issues in other parts of the Highlands. He also said the housing shortage was a factor where businesses in the area struggled to find staff.
Under Mr Lobban’s proposal, which is backed by the region’s other councilors, a change in use of a property to vacation rental would require planning consent, with residents having the right to comment on the application.
During a debate on the plan yesterday, Badenoch and Strathspey Councilor Pippa Hadley spoke of a note placed in her house postbox by someone desperately trying to find somewhere to buy in the area . She added: “We need change and change strong enough to protect our future generations and their ability to live in the communities in which they were raised.”
Skye and Raasay adviser Calum MacLeod said people in his area would be watching with interest. He said ‘radical reforms’ were needed to help people who wanted to live and work in the Highlands find ‘affordable and available’ land and housing.
Daniel Cullen of Iomairt an Eilein, a group campaigning on issues affecting young people in Skye, said action was also needed to tackle the island’s housing shortage. Mr Cullen said he spent two years on the homeless list after returning to the island to live and work. He said, simply put, you can’t find a house to rent – “unless you’re incredibly lucky and find a magical place no one else has seen”.
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He added that he was aware of a situation where a student teacher had to stay in a trailer at a campsite until accommodation was found for him. He said, “The reason they came here is because we needed teachers. Mr Cullen said tourism was vital for Skye, but also found ways to build more homes – including social housing – for islanders and people moving to the island.
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