Fife self-catering business warns industry faces ‘annihilation’

Maggie Picken, owner of St Andrews Coach Houses, made up of six properties, warned that new rules put forward by the Scottish Government would lead to self-catering businesses ‘giving up’.

The Scottish Government regulations, which are to be put forward in December, aims to give local councils the power to licence short-term lets and introduce control areas. One of the changes would require all short-term lets to have licences, to make sure they are safe and allow issues raised by neighbours to be addressed.

However, Ms Picken said the rules will lead to the ‘annihilation’ of the industry in Scotland, and that it would be the equivalent of using a ‘sledgehammer to crack a nut’.

“It would of course result in material damage the Scottish tourist industry generally, and significant economic damage to the local supply chains currently supported by these self-catering businesses,” she said.

Ms Picken said the rules would require her to pay £30,000 every three years on her six properties – a sum she can not afford.

It is argued the licence would cost time and money; the requirement to renew regularly will create too much future business planning uncertainty; and that licence conditions could be excessive or unworkable.

“We think it should be simply scrapped and we will help oppose it in every way we can, and encourage others to do so,” she added.

The self-catering trade association, ASSC, published the results of a recent poll of its members, which found that nearly one third of the businesses would be rendered unviable.

Almost all said that the new regulations should be delayed because of Covid-19.