That the Parliament recognises the success of Scotland’s growing tourism sector and that well-managed, short-term lets are a significant part of that economy; welcomes the reassurance and safeguards for visitors, hosts and communities that the short-term lets licensing scheme provides; acknowledges the work that local authorities have done to date in processing applications, and also those hosts who have submitted applications so far; highlights the six-month extension to the application deadline, giving nearly two years for hosts to comply with licensing conditions and a year to prepare and submit an application; notes the ongoing Scottish Government engagement with local authorities and the short-term lets sector across Scotland; calls on all MSPs to focus on supporting and encouraging any outstanding applications to be submitted to local authorities before 1 October 2023; confirms the Scottish Government’s ongoing work to listen to and engage with the sector, and reaffirms the Scottish Government’s commitment to an implementation review update in early 2024.
Result 62 for, 54 against, 0 abstained, 13 did not vote Agreed
Scottish National Party
Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Scottish Labour
Scottish Green Party
Scottish Liberal Democrats
No Party Affiliation
That the Parliament notes the widespread concern in the tourist sector at the introduction of the licensing scheme for short-term lets, which is effective from 1 October 2023; understands that this will apply not just to stand-alone self-catering units, but also to home sharing, B&Bs, guest houses and home swaps; is concerned that the unintended consequences of the scheme will have a seriously negative impact on Scotland’s tourism offer, and calls on the Scottish Government to pause the introduction of the scheme for 12 months to allow for modifications based on a detailed, evidence-based review of its impact.
Submitted by: Paul McLennan, East Lothian, Scottish National Party, Date lodged: Tuesday, September 12, 2023
Supported by: Neil Gray, Richard Lochhead, Emma Roddick, Shirley-Anne Somerville
Current status: Taken in the chamber on Wednesday, September 13, 2023
Result 65 for, 51 against, 0 abstained, 13 did not vote Agreed
Submitted by: Willie Rennie, North East Fife, Scottish Liberal Democrats, Date lodged: Tuesday, September 12, 2023
Current status: Taken in the chamber on Wednesday, September 13, 2023
Submitted by: Mark Griffin, Central Scotland, Scottish Labour, Date lodged: Tuesday, September 12, 2023
Supported by: Daniel Johnson
Current status: Taken in the chamber on Wednesday, September 13, 2023