Inverness councillors to be briefed on rise of Airbnb-type accommodation amid calls for cap on short-term let properties
Fears that growing numbers of holiday and short-term let properties are adding to the housing crisis will be discussed by Inverness councillors this month.
They are set to be briefed by officers amid concerns that a rise in Airbnb-style holiday accommodation is pushing out longer-term residents in some areas and resulting in a loss of community cohesion.
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The Inverness Courier recently highlighted the impact in the city’s Crown neighbourhood, where community leaders and other residents are calling for a cap in the number of short-term let (STL) properties.
They maintain without controls, the area runs the risk of becoming soulless and could also impact on the local primary school’s roll which is predicted to drop by 25 per cent in the next six years.
A lack of affordable housing in the Highlands is also fuelling the social care staffing crisis, care providers have warned.
Millburn councillor Isabelle MacKenzie and Central councillor Michael Gregson, who have voiced their concerns about the impact of STLs, will be seeking answers to how the issues can be tackled at the briefing on May 12.
“I’d like the briefing we’re due to have to present ways forward, including how and where we might progress control zones, and where we are with the large number of long-term empty homes across Highland,” Cllr Gregson said.
“These are serious matters with huge consequences.
“There is also a probability that some operators are letting without licensing their property as a business, that new affordable homes are at risk of being bought to let as STLs rather than providing much-needed homes and that the loss of private rental properties is having a catastrophic effect on young people’s ability to get a home of their own, and, in the longer-term, given consequent rising property prices, to get onto the property ladder.”
Cllr MacKenzie felt council and community representatives should have a chance to review the use of STLs in the Highlands.
She, too, will be pressing for answers on impact of empty houses on the broader situation.
“We should be having a roundtable discussion on this,” she said.
“There are a range of potential problems that have come to light - loss of residential housing, reducing availability, higher costs and, importantly, diminished community unity from higher number of transitory visitors.”
She also said some areas had mentioned antisocial behaviour from guests, rubbish and personal safety risks from unknown guests using a shared building or area while there was a lack of alignment between STLs and traditional accommodation providers such as hotels and B&Bs, particularly in health, safety, and taxation compliance.
