After a narrow defeat in 2022, Perth and Kinross Council prepares to vote again on a proposal requiring planning permission for holiday rental conversions, aiming to protect residential communities and address affordable housing shortages in north and east Perthshire.
Council officials in Perth and Kinross are preparing to revisit a proposal for a short-term let control area aimed at regulating the transformation of residential properties into holiday rentals in northern and eastern Perthshire. This move comes after a previous attempt to implement such controls was rejected by the local environment and infrastructure committee in August 2022 by a narrow margin of eight votes to seven.
The proposed control area would necessitate that property owners seek planning permission before converting their homes into short-term rentals for platforms like Airbnb and Booking.com. Council officers have advocated for this measure as a means to protect communities and address the pressing need for affordable housing in the Highland and North Eastern Perthshire regions.
In the initial proposal, concerns were raised about the potential negative impact on the tourism sector, leading opponents to argue for alternative solutions, such as increasing the supply of housing rather than imposing restrictions on short-term rentals. The council’s full body, consisting of 40 councillors, is set to reconsider the proposal during a vote scheduled for Wednesday.
Current statistics highlight the extent of short-term lets in the region, with approximately half of the existing 1,699 licenses located in Highland Perthshire and 260 in Eastern Perthshire. The figures indicate that 9% of properties in Highland Perthshire and 13% in North Eastern Perthshire are currently classified as short-term lets. Residents from these tourist-heavy areas have voiced their apprehensions regarding the availability and affordability of housing in light of this trend.
Since September 2023, short-term lets in Perth and Kinross have required licenses; however, only flat owners are mandated to apply for planning permission to convert residential properties for holiday rental purposes. A report submitted to the council believes that implementing a short-term let control area would enhance local participation in the decision-making process, stating, “By applying for planning permission, it will allow the council the opportunity to consider the impact of residential character and amenity, and loss of residential accommodation.”
The Scottish Government granted councils the authority to establish short-term let control areas in April 2021, but so far, only Edinburgh and Badenoch and Strathspey have enacted such measures. A public consultation conducted by Perth and Kinross Council in 2023 yielded 333 responses—224 from residents and 95 from business operators—with over half (53%) of residents supporting the idea of a short-term let control area. In contrast, a significant proportion (69%) of responding businesses opposed the initiative.
As the council prepares for the upcoming vote, the discussion surrounding the balance between tourism, housing accessibility, and community integrity remains at the forefront of local governance in Perth and Kinross.
Source: Noah Wire Services
- https://www.assc.co.uk/industry-news/victory-for-the-assc-councillors-reject-short-term-let-control-area-proposal-in-highland-perthshire-and-north-east-perthshire – This article reports on the August 2024 decision by Perth and Kinross Council’s Economy and Infrastructure Committee to reject the proposal for a short-term let control area in Highland Perthshire and North Eastern Perthshire, highlighting the council’s move to revisit the proposal after its initial rejection in August 2022.
- https://www.scottishhousingnews.com/articles/perthshire-short-term-let-control-area-narrowly-rejected – This source details the August 2024 vote by Perth and Kinross Council against establishing a short-term let control area in Highland Perthshire and the northern half of Eastern Perthshire, providing context to the council’s reconsideration of the proposal.
- https://www.pkc.gov.uk/shorttermletsandplanning – This page from Perth & Kinross Council outlines the planning requirements for short-term lets, including the necessity for planning permission when converting residential properties into short-term rentals, supporting the article’s mention of council officers advocating for such measures.
- https://www.pkc.gov.uk/article/23378/Elected-Member-Briefing-Consultation-on-short-term-let-control-areas – This briefing note discusses the council’s consultation on introducing short-term let control areas in parts of Perthshire, addressing concerns about affordable housing and the impact of short-term lets on local communities, aligning with the article’s mention of residents’ apprehensions regarding housing availability.
- https://www.pkc.gov.uk/shorttermlets – This page provides information on Perth & Kinross Council’s short-term lets licensing scheme, including mandatory conditions and the requirement for a licence to operate a short-term let, supporting the article’s mention of licensing requirements for short-term lets in the region.
- https://www.pkc.gov.uk/article/23723/Elected-Member-Briefing-Short-Term-Lets-update – This briefing note provides an update on the regulation of short-term lets, including the council’s review of policy and fee structures, and the consideration of introducing a short-term let control area, supporting the article’s mention of the council’s ongoing efforts to address the impact of short-term lets on housing availability.
- https://www.thecourier.co.uk/fp/news/perth-kinross/5235877/for-monday-short-term-let-control-area-back-on-cards-for-perthshire-tourist-hotspots/ – Please view link – unable to able to access data
Noah Fact Check Pro
The draft above was created using the information available at the time the story first
emerged. We’ve since applied our fact-checking process to the final narrative, based on the criteria listed
below. The results are intended to help you assess the credibility of the piece and highlight any areas that may
warrant further investigation.
Freshness check
Score:
8
Notes:
Narrative references post-2022 developments (e.g., 2023 consultation, vote scheduled for upcoming Wednesday) and current licensing rules (September 2023), indicating recent activity. While no explicit dates beyond 2023 are provided, the context suggests ongoing relevance.
Quotes check
Score:
7
Notes:
Indirect quote from council report included, but no unique phrasing requiring external verification. No direct quotes needing source attribution were found.
Source reliability
Score:
7
Notes:
Narrative originates from ‘thecourier.co.uk’, a regional UK outlet. While not explicitly listed in fact-checking databases, the detail of licensing statistics and procedural references suggests reasonable factual adherence.
Plausability check
Score:
9
Notes:
Claims align with known Scottish housing policies (e.g., 2021 Scottish Government powers, Edinburgh/Badenoch precedents). Licensing figures and consultation data appear internally consistent.
Overall assessment
Verdict (FAIL, OPEN, PASS): PASS
Confidence (LOW, MEDIUM, HIGH): HIGH
Summary:
Narrative demonstrates current relevance through dated policy references (2023 consultation, recent licensing rules) and plausible alignment with established housing regulations. While thecourier.co.uk’s verification methodology isn’t explicitly confirmed, the specificity of data and procedural details supports reliability.
