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Planning a holiday north of the English border? Your accomodation choices may soon be a bit more limited. The Scottish government is bringing in a new law requiring all holiday lets to be licensed, stating that if an entire property is being let, it needs to have planning permission.
The legislation, which comes into force on October 1, intends to clamp down on short-term lets in the country. A boom in the number of Airbnbs in Scotland has brought complaints from locals about anti-social behaviour and concerns that they contribute to the lack of affordable housing.
The scheme also covers commercial accommodation including B&Bs, holiday caravans, self-catering lets and managed apartments.
In support of the law, a number of Edinburgh’s resident associations said in a joint statement: ‘It is time to restore some balance and ensure that Edinburgh remains a place for people to live.’
Naturally, owners and operators of holiday lets in Scotland’s capital (and in Scotland in general) are not best pleased about the whole thing. Many have protested outside the Scottish Parliament, claiming that the regulations will wipe out the sector, destroy businesses and cause a significant loss of jobs.
ICYMI: this Welsh seaside town is getting a major glow-up.
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