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Edinburgh holiday lets return to long-term
Reading Time: 2 minutesUK: Due to the strain of the COVID-19 coronavirus, many Edinburgh landlords have returned to long-term lets. The shift is supported by many community groups, who have been bemoaning the growth of short-term lets in the city. Mike Small of pressure group Citizens Network said: “The virus is forcing the short-term let and Airbnb market […]
Edinburgh seeks resident voice on letting controls
Reading Time: < 1 minuteUK: The city of Edinburgh, the second most popular short-term rental destination in the UK, is seeking advice from its residents on potential legislation. This comes after announcement by the SNP and Scottish Parliament of plans to overhaul regulations pertaining to these flats. The city of Edinburgh has been a major hotbed for short-term let […]
Green MSP launches new short-term let reporting website
Reading Time: 2 minutesUK: Andy Wightman, green party MSP for the Lothians, has launched homesfirst.scot, a tool where residents can track the growth of short-term lets. This follows recent news of Scotland overhauling its powers to legislate short-term rentals. Residents will be able to use the website to list addresses and other details of rental properties in their […]
Government announces rental law reform in Scotland
Reading Time: 2 minutesScotland: The Scottish government today announced its intention to place a comprehensive set of regulations on the short-term lets market in Scotland. Scottish housing minister Kevin Stewart noted: “We are empowering local authorities to implement a system that works for their area. By giving councils the power to set conditions around short-term lets licences and […]
Minut partners with Airbnb for noise detection trials in Edinburgh
Reading Time: 2 minutesScotland: Home security technology firm Minut has partnered with Airbnb by trialling its noise detection system in Edinburgh properties rented out over the short-term rental platform. The three-month trial, which coincides with the start of the peak Christmas and Hogmanay celebrations, has the purpose of reassuring neighbours that visitors staying in short-term rental accommodation locally […]
Overflowing bins attributed to holiday let “explosion” in Edinburgh
Reading Time: 2 minutesScotland: Edinburgh City Council is attributing a 13 per cent increase in overflowing bins over the last 12 months to the perceived “explosion” of holiday lets in the city like those rented out over Airbnb. Over the summer alone, overflowing bins have generated some 6,000 complaints from disgruntled homeowners in Edinburgh. The city council is […]
Airbnb reveals planning and registration proposals for UK
Reading Time: < 1 minuteUK: Airbnb has revealed proposals for planning regulations and a registration system across the UK. The submissions were announced as Airbnb begins a six-month UK roadshow to gather feedback. They include backing for a free online landlord registration system in some communities, extending planning requirements to those hosting more than 140 nights a year and […]
Scottish Building Society launches holiday let mortgage product
Reading Time: < 1 minuteScotland: The Scottish Building Society has launched its own mortgage product for borrowers looking to buy or re-mortgage a property that is operated as a holiday let. The mortgage is available on a three-year discounted variable, with a current rate of 3.75 per cent, and it comes with a fee of £995. The deal is […]
Calls for stricter short-term let licensing in Edinburgh
Reading Time: 3 minutesScotland: A report by The Scotsman has revealed thousands of Airbnb properties may be operating unlawfully in Edinburgh with the council struggling to enforce regulations to counter the expansion of short-term lets in the city. According to the national newspaper, although 7,000+ properties in the city are listed on Airbnb (as opposed to spare rooms), […]
One in ten city Edinburgh city centre properties listed on Airbnb
Reading Time: 3 minutesUK: The Scottish capital has the fastest growing residential rents in the UK as landlords opt for short-term rentals over ASTs. According to a report in The Times, growing numbers of families and young professionals are losing their homes as landlords opt for the short-term lettings market — particularly over the festival and Hogmanay — […]