One size does not fit all to regulate short term lets - Christine Jardine

I have stayed in lovely small hotels, apartments and B&Bs across Scotland.

I’ve been well looked after, comfortable and once even met a life-sized teddy-bear.

But I have also stayed in some doozies, and I am sure I am not alone in having often wished we had better regulations.

Licences perhaps?

So in principle it’s difficult to take any issue with the Scottish Government’s apparent aim of regulating an important sector of our tourist industry, and protecting communities by introducing council licensing.

In Edinburgh there is a whole extra dimension to what has become an epidemic-like spread of short term lets exacerbating an already challenging housing situation.

Last year rents in the city had the highest percentage increase in the UK.

And every week I hear from constituents struggling to find anywhere to live in a city that has always been their home.

It is no wonder that, there is political unanimity on the need for a better balance between vital tourist visitors and the needs of our own families.

Elsewhere, however, the potential for conflict between the competing economic and housing needs in one community make the issue more problematic.

Even in some of our tourist hot-spots, where short-term lets play a crucial role within both the tourism sector and wider economy, there is a need to find balance. To use regulation to the community’s advantage.

What both industry and public also need is clarity, flexibility and understanding of different communities’ needs.

That is where the Scottish Government has missed a trick.

Their objectives are confused and their application heavy-handed with the plans for anyone providing a room or home for rent to have to apply to their local council for a licence.

At the most recent count the majority of owners of B&B’s and short-term lets in various areas had still to apply to operate under the new licenses.

Many say they are not sure their businesses can survive.

Just this week the Scottish Bed and Breakfast Association has appealed to the First Minister to pause plans, claiming that almost two thirds of B&B owners are considering just closing up.

They say that often family run businesses feel the costs of administrative burden is prohibitive, and that the loss of around 60 per cent of that sector of accommodation would be disastrous for our tourism industry.

The Scottish Government say they have already paused the scheme once and that, following a judicial review of Edinburgh City Council’s scheme, they will be publishing updated guidance.

Again uncertainty.

Edinburgh is not alone in grappling with the problems created by an annual visitor influx in search of accommodation.

At the same time the lack of, and need for, good quality housing across Scotland has been well documented and agreed by all parties.

But if we are to find a solution to both we cannot assume that the solution for the capital is the same as those for rural or island communities.

Finding that balance may take longer than the First Minister’s advisers are allowing, and may not be quite as simple as they think.

Perhaps it is time to take a deep breath and listen to what communities are saying.

Give councils time to make sure they find a solution for their own communities.

One size rarely fits all.