Asked by: Mark Menzies (Independent - Fylde)
Question to the Department for Digital, Culture, Media & Sport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, if she will make an assessment of the potential impact of differences in the (a) licensing and (b) regulation of (i) short-term holiday lets and (ii) other providers of accommodation on (A) hotels, (B) bed and breakfasts and (C) other accommodation providers.
Answered by Julia Lopez - Minister of State (Department for Science, Innovation and Technology)
On 19 February 2024, the government announced a mandatory national registration scheme for short-term lets.
The scheme aims to preserve the benefits of short-term lets, as well as tackling the challenges they present in a proportionate way. The evidence collected through the call for evidence in 2022 and public consultation held in 2023 suggests that a form of registration rather than a licensing model is the optimum form of regulation in this sector in England.
Our aim is to make the scheme as light touch, low cost and simple as possible. The registration scheme is focussed on short-term lets, and therefore the register will not affect hotels, hostels or B&Bs. We will be examining the impact of the scheme on the sector through an impact assessment. Further details of the register will be set out in the government’s response to the consultation.
Correspondence
Inquiry: Short-term lets regulationsFound: Short Term Lets 16 January 2023 A submission from Visit Scotland
Feb. 19 2024
Source Page: Delivering a registration scheme for short-term letsFound: Delivering a registration scheme for short-term lets
Asked by: Lord Taylor of Warwick (Non-affiliated - Life peer)
Question to the HM Treasury:
To ask His Majesty's Government, further to the Budget statement announced by the Chancellor of the Exchequer on 6 March, what assessment they have made of the long-term implications of abolishing tax relief for holiday lets and ending multiple dwelling relief from stamp duty land tax on the housing market and local economies.
Answered by Baroness Vere of Norbiton - Parliamentary Secretary (HM Treasury)
By abolishing the Furnished Holiday Lettings tax regime, the government will remove the current incentive for landlords to offer short‑term holiday lets rather than longer-term homes. This will level the playing field between short-term holiday lets and long-term lets and support people to live in their local area.
An external evaluation exploring the use of Multiple Dwellings Relief showed no strong evidence the relief is meeting its original objectives of supporting investment in the private rented sector.
Asked by: Ewing, Fergus (Scottish National Party - Inverness and Nairn)
Question
To ask the Scottish Government whether it will repeal the short-term lets regulations, and what the reasons are for its position on this matter.
Answered by McLennan, Paul - Minister for Housing
We remain committed to the current regulation of short-term let accommodation. Over the last decade the sector has both grown significantly and changed in nature. That has brought economic benefits but also raised concerns about consistency of quality and the impact on neighbourhoods. The introduction of licensing brings short-term lets in line with other accommodation such as hotels and caravan parks, providing assurance to guests on safety and quality such as gas and electrical safety compliance and the suitability of hosts.
I am currently preparing an update for Parliament on the implementation of short-term let licensing. This will outline findings from our monitoring and ongoing engagement with stakeholders.
Asked by: Dowey, Sharon (Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party - South Scotland)
Question
To ask the Scottish Government what analysis has been undertaken of the potential impact of short-term let regulations on the Scottish tourism sector and visitor economy, including on (a) visitor attractions, (b) activity providers, (c) service providers and (d) hospitality venues, and, if it is the case that no such analysis has been undertaken, what plans there are to do so.
Answered by McLennan, Paul - Minister for Housing
We have published a Business Regulatory Impact Assessment, which is available on the Scottish Government website at: https://www.gov.scot/publications/short-term-lets-business-regulatory-impact-assessment/
I also refer the member to the answer to question S6W-25506 on 28 February 2024. All answers to written Parliamentary Questions are available on the Parliament's website, the search facility for which can be found at https://www.parliament.scot/chamber-and-committees/written-questions-and-answers
Correspondence Feb. 09 2024
Committee: Local Government, Housing and Planning CommitteeFound: ASSC letter Short-term Lets A letter from The Association of Scotland's Self-Caterers, 9 February 2024
Mentions:
1: Peter Aldous (Con - Waveney) let sector, PASC can find no quantitative data to support that conclusion. - Speech Link
2: Anne Marie Morris (Con - Newton Abbot) going back to the private rented sector, which they wanted to leave and are leaving in droves. - Speech Link
3: Peter Aldous (Con - Waveney) policy intention is to align the tax treatment of furnished holiday lets and the private rented sector - Speech Link
4: Nigel Huddleston (Con - Mid Worcestershire) I have heard owners of pubs, bars and restaurants complain that the large number of short-term lets and - Speech Link
5: Nigel Huddleston (Con - Mid Worcestershire) lets, rather than long-term lets. - Speech Link
Correspondence Feb. 20 2024
Committee: Local Government, Housing and Planning CommitteeFound: Housing and Short -Term Lets in Scotland: The Facts Self-Catering in Scotland • Self-catering properties
Mentions:
1: Julia Lopez (Con - Hornchurch and Upminster) Following consultation on a registration scheme for short-term lets in England, today the Government - Speech Link