Government faces pressure from MSPs over 'party flats'

Published on Wednesday 6 May 2009 10:20

A HOLYROOD committee is to press the Scottish Government and city council for action over Edinburgh's so-called "party flats".

MSPs on the Scottish Parliament's public petitions committee said they sympathised with residents who described how their lives were made a misery by groups of revellers renting nearby flats for stag and hen weekends.

They are to take up the issue with ministers and council chiefs in a bid to find a solution.

Retired lecturer Stan Player from Grove Street, near Haymarket, told the committee how up to 25 people would stay in one flat, disturbing the neighbours in the middle of the night. When he called the council's noise team he was told it was a police matter, but the police were unable to help.

Mr Player, 78, said: "The problems are absolutely horrendous. They come in at all times, go out at all times, doors banging, we can't get any sleep. The situation is deplorable and we can't seem to do anything about it. We're looking for some legislation to rectify the situation."

Labour MSP Bill Butler said the committee should ask the Government for assurances that the issue of short-term holiday and party lets will be fully addressed in a review of housing regulations.

"We should ask what immediate measures it will take to alleviate the suffering people have to endure because of these so-called party lets."

He said ministers should also be asked why they had not modified the Antisocial Behaviour Act to cover holiday lets.

SNP backbencher John Wilson said the loophole which allowed party flats to escape regulation had to be closed as soon as possible.

He said the committee should ask the city council how many calls it received about party flats and whether it knew how many party flats there were in the capital.

"There is an onus on local authorities to ensure people can lead peaceful lives in their own houses without being disturbed by these party lets," he added.

Convener Frank McAveety said the committee would write to the government and the council on the issues raised. He told Mr Player: "The committee sympathises with the plight faced by you and other residents and hopefully we can find a way to find a better solution to overcome some of the difficulties you have experienced."

Edinburgh Central Labour MSP Sarah Boyack, who appeared at the committee with Mr Player, welcomed the consensus at the meeting but she added: "I'm disappointed that to date the support shown by SNP members in the committee has not been echoed by Scottish ministers, who continue to deny the need to look again at the legislation to better protect residents.

"I hope that the committee's inquiries will prompt the Scottish Government to reassess its position on this matter."