MORE than 80% of Scots want new taxes to be imposed on holiday let landlords, according to a poll.
The YouGov survey, carried out on behalf of campaigners 38 Degrees, shows 84% of those who expressed an opinion would support the introduction of more levies.
Respondents also gave their backing – at 64% – for most of the cash raised to be ring-fenced to improve local housing. The poll was carried out ahead of the Edinburgh festival season, which increases the city’s accommodation pressures.
Megan Bente Bishop, from Living Rent Edinburgh, said: “Edinburgh’s festival season puts extreme strain on the city’s housing. Huge numbers of new holiday lets have been set up in the city to profit from this but every holiday let is one fewer home for the people who live and work here year-round.
“You cannot build a city which only serves those who visit a few months a year at the expense of residents, and the situation in Edinburgh underlines the desperate need to limit holiday lets.”
“People across Scotland know all too well what the current lack of regulation means for our communities. It means families forced out, communities ripped apart and ever fewer homes for people who want to live and work in Scotland. At the same time, the landlords who own these properties are making a killing. This urgently has to change, or the damage done will be irreversible.”
Current legislation means private landlords must register with local authorities. But those who run holiday lets and take bookings through companies such as Airbnb are not required to.
The poll also shows 89% of Scots who gave an opinion believe such landlords should be required to register their properties.
More than 10,000 people have signed a petition by 38 Degrees and Living Rent calling for new regulations to “stop holiday lets destroying our communities.”
Chloe Lawson, of 38 Degrees, said: “This polling suggests the vast majority of people across Scotland could also back that demand. The ball is now in the Government’s court – will they stand up for communities across the country?”
Campaigners have called on the Scottish Government to give councils the power to limit the number of holiday lets, bring in new taxes on the rentals and require landlords to register.
The poll questioned 1019 adults in Scotland between July 16 and 18.
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