Question reference: S3W-22158
- Asked by: Shirley-Anne Somerville, MSP for Lothians, Scottish National Party
- Date lodged: 19 March 2009
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Current status: Answered by Alex Neil on 30 March 2009
Question
To ask the Scottish Executive whether there are plans to include short-term and holiday lets within the definition of houses in multiple occupation that require HMO licensing under the Housing (Scotland) Act 2006.
Answer
The Scottish Government is aware of concerns that the definition of an HMO (house in multiple occupation) may not be sufficiently closely drawn, and that in some cases landlords may be evading HMO licensing requirements by claiming that properties are being let on a short-term or holiday let basis, and that tenants have principal residences elsewhere.
We will be considering the options for implementing the HMO provisions in the Housing (Scotland) Act 2006 later this year. The issue of short term lets, and what types of accommodation require to be licensed under those provisions, will be part of our discussions with stakeholders.
HMO licensing is a regulatory regime with conditions designed to protect tenants whose principal or only residence is a multiply-occupied house. It is likely that extending HMO licensing requirements to holiday lets would have a significant impact on the tourism industry. We therefore have no plans to extend HMO licensing to genuine holiday lets.