Edinburgh City Council are currently processing nearly 100 live planning applications for short term lets in the city.
These are the first round of applications as the city prepares for the Council’s new Short Term Let Control area, set to start in the capital on September 5. The new legislation means that anyone who operates a short term let will have to put in a planning application to register the change of use of the property.
There are currently 92 live planning applications making their way through the council’s planning department. Eight of which are currently awaiting validation and 84 are currently being assessed or awaiting a decision following assessment.
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The moves are designed to crack down on the number of holiday lets in the capital, which have been pushing up house prices and rents in the city, according to Edinburgh City Council. After the new rules come into effect, anyone looking to change the use of a residential home in the city to short term letting will automatically require planning permission.
The legislation will also mean that those wanting to operate a holiday let will have to apply for a special licence from the council before they can operate. From October 1, all new hosts must apply for a licence and existing hosts have until April 1, 2023 to apply if they wish to continue operating their short term let.
Cllr James Dalgleish, Planning Convener said: “It’s great news that from September 5 Edinburgh will officially become a short term lets control area.
“For far too long, too many homes have been lost to the holiday market pushing up house prices and rents in our Capital city. Around a third of all short term lets in Scotland are here in Edinburgh, so their associated issues of safety, anti-social behaviour and noise have a detrimental effect on many of our residents.
“I welcome the fact people are acting responsibly and submitting planning applications where they need them. The new legislation will now make it much clearer and easier for us to establish where planning permission is required.”
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