SHORT-TERM lets are being used for drug-dealing, prostitution and as fronts for puppy farming operations, MSPs have been warned.
A Police Scotland chief inspector said the high turnover of occupants means several types of criminality are able to take place, including county lines drug dealing.
Holyrood is considering plans for a licensing system for Airbnb-style properties which would be in force by 2024.
The police said they are supportive as they would allow authorities to establish “fit and proper” operators.
Setting out intelligence on criminality, written evidence to the Scottish Parliament’s Local Government Committee said: “There are prostitutes moving about Scotland utilising short-term lets, advertising their services and travelling to the areas where there is potential business.
“Drug dealing takes place whereby a drug dealer houses themselves at a short-term let, most recently in relation to county lines investigations.”
Anecdotal cases indicate that short-term lets are being used by puppy farmers to provide a “nice” property purporting to be the owner’s home.
Chief Inspector Nicola Robison and representatives from local government and community groups spoke to the Holyrood committee yesterday. She said: “There are powers that exist at the moment in respect of the legislation that we can use; however, what we do find is that creates certain limitations.
Other members of the panel called for the Scottish Government to reintroduce regulations against “overprovision” to the scheme.
In October, Housing Secretary Shona Robison said these would not be needed as councils have separate powers to establish control areas.
Ailsa Raeburn, of Community Land Scotland, said this shows a “fundamental misunderstanding” of the short-term lets control areas in planning legislation.
Tony Cain, policy manager at the Association of Local Authority Chief Housing Officers, said “fairly bold” action is needed to deal with the unmanaged growth of short-term lets.
Why are you making commenting on The National only available to subscribers?
We know there are thousands of National readers who want to debate, argue and go back and forth in the comments section of our stories. We’ve got the most informed readers in Scotland, asking each other the big questions about the future of our country.
Unfortunately, though, these important debates are being spoiled by a vocal minority of trolls who aren’t really interested in the issues, try to derail the conversations, register under fake names, and post vile abuse.
So that’s why we’ve decided to make the ability to comment only available to our paying subscribers. That way, all the trolls who post abuse on our website will have to pay if they want to join the debate – and risk a permanent ban from the account that they subscribe with.
The conversation will go back to what it should be about – people who care passionately about the issues, but disagree constructively on what we should do about them. Let’s get that debate started!
Callum Baird, Editor of The National
Comments: Our rules
We want our comments to be a lively and valuable part of our community - a place where readers can debate and engage with the most important local issues. The ability to comment on our stories is a privilege, not a right, however, and that privilege may be withdrawn if it is abused or misused.
Please report any comments that break our rules.
Read the rules here