Question reference: S6W-03012
- Asked by: Jackie Baillie, MSP for Dumbarton, Scottish Labour
- Date lodged: 16 September 2021
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Current status: Answered by Shona Robison on 1 October 2021
Question
To ask the Scottish Government, further to the business and regulatory impact assessment (BRIA) for its short-term lets licensing scheme and planning control area legislation, what cases and evidence there are to support the assertion that short-term let accommodation in Scotland is used “for criminal enterprises (such drug dealing, sex trafficking etc.), with or without the collusion of the host”.
Answer
Our proposed licensing scheme will assist in ensuring that short-term lets are safe and used for lawful purposes. Police Scotland is represented on the Short Term Lets Stakeholder Working Group and has expressed concern about some short-term lets being used for criminal purposes. Residents and community groups have also raised concerns with the Scottish Government.