Scottish Government's tourism guidance 'not fit for purpose' with risks to neighbours of Airbnbs 'omitted entirely' say campaign group

PLACEEdinburgh have written to Fergus Ewing calling for specific guidance to help protect those who live close to Airbnbs and other short-term lets.

AirBnB locks outside a block of flats in Edinburgh

Renewed guidance for the tourism and hospitality sector in Scotland is “not fit for purpose” and does not consider risks to neighbours who live next to short-term lets, a campaign group has said.

PLACEEdinburgh have written to the cabinet secretary for tourism, Fergus Ewing calling for more focus on the risks for neighbours connected with the reopening the tourism economy.

The anti-short-term lets campaign group said the guidance published last Thursday omits any requirement to minimise the risk of passing on Covid-19 to neighbours.

Parts of Edinburgh including the New Town, Old Town and Leith Walk are among the areas with the highest densities of Airbnbs in Scotland, with most operating out of traditional residential tenements.

In the letter the group states the guidance is “not fit for purpose” and called for “urgent leadership” to help protect neighbours who live close to Airbnbs but tourism secretary Fergus Ewing labelled the claims “manifestly ill-founded”

It writes: “The guidance provided by the Scottish Government, UK Hospitality and the Association of Scotland's Self-Caterers (ASSC) makes no sense in the context of residential tenements and makes no requirement to consider risks to neighbours.

“What measures will be taken in high risk areas such as entrances and stairs where physical contact between residents and a high turnover of transient customers and service staff is likely?

“Will neighbours be expected to undertake the same training as staff so that they can manage the risks to which they are being exposed?

“The inappropriateness of operating high turnover commercial businesses in a communal residential tenement is obvious”

The letter states that reopening the short-term let tourist economy would increase risk to residents, leading to the potential spread of Covid-19.

It states: “The guidance remains for people to stay home but these businesses will soon be, indeed many are already, operating inside our home environments, increasing risk to residents.

“We request urgent leadership to: enforce the legal position which protects peaceful and secure homes; continue to suppress the virus by keeping homes safe, and providing safe visitor accommodation for visitors and employees; and to protect the livelihoods of lawful accommodation providers.”

The guidance published on the Scottish Government website states: “We have worked with industry and trade unions to ensure that this guidance is evidence-based, fair and ethical, clear and realistic.

“This work enables them to plan ahead for safe workplaces through practical measures and draft guidelines aimed at ensuring the safety of staff, customers and the public is at the centre of operational plans for re-opening of the sector.”

Tourism secretary Fergus Ewing labelled the claims “manifestly ill-founded” and said any business operating outwith of the guidance should be reported to the council.

He said: “The published guidance for the tourism and hospitality sector makes absolutely clear that businesses must comply and operate within the requirements for safe operating. If this is not happening it should be reported to the local authority.

“These claims are manifestly ill-founded as a glance at the guidance will make clear”.