New Highland short-term lets control zone proposed

Councillors have agreed that a short-term lets control zone should be considered to cover all or parts of Wester Ross, Strathpeffer and Lochalsh.

If it was introduced, AirBnB-style properties would need planning permission.

Highland Council, like other local authorities, has the power to use the zones to help tackle shortages of affordable homes.

Wester Ross, Strathpeffer and Lochalsh area committee co-chairwoman Biz Campbell said the public’s views would be sought on the plans.

Across the Highlands, 6% of potential homes are licensed as short-term lets (STLs), and about 5% of new housing completions within the last five years are now licensed short-term lets, according to the council.

The local authority said an assessment of Wester Ross, Strathpeffer and Lochalsh suggested a high proportion of property purchasers came from outside the local areas.

Officials said high proportions of external sales from outside of the Highlands, Scotland and UK could indicate the local housing market may be distorted by increased external demand.

In a report , they said that 25 of 220 new housing completions in the area in the last five years were now licensed STLs.

Ms Campbell said: “We feel that this is worth taking a closer look now, because the overall indicators suggest that, in general, both the Ross and Cromarty West and Skye and Lochalsh housing market areas are less affordable and have higher rates of STLs and second homes than Highland as a whole.”

Councillors agreed last month that individual areas of Highland Council should be left to make decisions on whether to limit holiday lets.

Officials were asked to investigate the potential of a Highland-wide control zone on short-term lets as a way of tackling a shortage of homes across the region.

But officers said their research suggested there would not be region-wide support for such a scheme and recommended a more “tailored approach” where area committees decided on any measures.

The Highlands has one control zone at the moment, covering Badenoch and Strathspey.

Councillors decided this week not to pursue a control zone for Caithness at this time.

A meeting of Lochaber area committee next Monday will be asked to discuss whether one is needed for the west Highlands.

In a report, officials said “on balance” the evidence at this time indicated a control zone might be justified.