Inverness short-term lets ‘killing community feeling’
A flurry of short-term lets have been granted across Inverness despite residential concerns “unknown” neighbours will impact their quality of life.
The applications for six short-term lets came from properties in different parts of Inverness.
Local residents raised concerns of late-night antisocial behaviour and fears the noise from visitors’ wheelie suitcases would disturb them.
Community voices concerns over rise in Airbnb-type accommodation
Neighbourhood character changing amid rise in short term lets
Councillors were convinced by the applicants’ assurances they would not let their customers get out of hand, and the applications have been approved.
They are just a handful of the 8000 short term let applications across the Highlands the council is currently processing.
What were the concerns?
Many of the neighbours adjacent to the short term let applications were present in the chamber to raise their concerns with councillors.
Fiona McInally lives on Lochalsh Road with her eight-month-old baby and nine-year-old daughter.
She said her family’s quality of life could be impacted by “unknown visitors looking at our children when they are playing in the garden.”
Martin Mackintosh said he has lived on Lochalsh Road for the last 48 years and the street has “always been a residential area – full of families, full of life.”
He added: “It’s taking away an opportunity for a family to move into and actually use the many facilities in the area.
“We are just killing the whole community feeling in the north of Scotland.”
Noise from wheelie suitcases a concern
Geoff Lowe lives opposite one of the short term lets and stated one of his reasons for objection was the “additional noise created by wheelie suitcases.”
He too had concerns about the risks of anti-social behaviour and feels the “sense of community is being eroded” from his neighbourhood with the number of short term lets.
Councillor William MacKay said the idea of wheelie suitcases causing a neighbourhood noise disturbance was “completely new to me.”
What did applicants have to say?
Property owners and short term let managers fiercely defended their applications from any concerns their visitors would disrupt communities.
Jillian Macleod looks after a number of Inverness-based short term lets through Ness Holiday Homes.
She addressed councillors on behalf of property owners on Ladies Walk and Hill Street.
Mrs Macleod said she would make sure the properties are “treated appropriately” and work “in any way we can” with neighbours to address their concerns.
Other property owners on Lochalsh Road said a limit on the number of guests staying there would stop noise from Inverness visitors getting out of control.
Where are the latest short-term lets?
The latest round of applications were sprinkled across the city.
In addition to the property on Lochalsh Road, an objection to a property on Great Glen Place on the west side of the city was removed and the application was subsequently granted.
Two properties on Inverness’s south side were approved on Castle Heather Drive and Riverside Gardens.
Towards the city centre, applications for a property on Ladies Walk and Hill Street were also granted by councillors.
Applications granted as council battle huge influx of applications
The unanimous approvals come as the council says it is processing over 8000 short term let applications in the Highlands.
Licensing committee chairman Sean Kennedy said City of Edinburgh Council by comparison only has 5000 short term let applications.
In granting the applications, Councillor Kennedy repeatedly asked the applicants to engage with their neighbours and address any issues they may have.
Council officers told the committee many of the neighbours’ concerns were not relevant to their final decision on the licences.
Cllr Kennedy did, however, add the licenses would be reviewed if neighbours complained of any problems arising from the short term lets.
