The SNP has been accused of rushing through legislation on short-term lets that will “penalise” B&Bs and self-caterers in areas like Moray.
Local MP Douglas Ross made the comments after Holyrood’s Local Government Committee yesterday (Weds) voted to pass new rules aimed at regulating the AirBnB boom in Edinburgh.
The plans include a requirement for landlords, B&B owners, and self-caterers to secure planning permission and obtain a licence or face fines of up to £50,000.
A survey by the Association of Scotland’s Self Caterers, which found that half of self-catering businesses in Scotland would close if the legislation were introduced.
Visit Moray Speyside chief executive Laurie Piper said the legislation was designed to “fix a Central Belt issue which is of little relevance to us in Moray”.
Now that the plans have been approved at committee stage, all MSPs will have the chance to vote on the legislation before it is passed into law.
Scottish Conservative MP for Moray Douglas Ross said:
“Last week, I spoke to more than 120 frustrated B&B and self-catering owners from across Scotland, many of whom have received little in Scottish Government grant support during the pandemic.
“The clear message was that these businesses are fighting for survival and need all the help from politicians that they can get.
“It is disappointing, therefore, that the local government committee have voted in favour of these rules that will penalise businesses here in Moray despite Scottish Conservative members voting against.
“I think we can all understand the desire to regulate the boom that we have seen in Edinburgh, which has put a great deal of pressure on housing and led to anti-social behaviour.
“But Moray is not Edinburgh. While this may help address a problem in urban areas of the Central Belt, it will be hugely damaging for businesses in rural areas.
“It is not too late to make changes to this legislation. I would urge all MSPs, and particularly Moray’s MSP, to stand up for rural businesses.
“Richard Lochhead must do what is right for his constituency – not his party – when this comes to a vote at Holyrood.”
