New rules make it simpler and cheaper for residents to rent rooms during events. The council aims to boost accommodation availability in Edinburgh.
Some application rules are now gone. You don’t need electrical inspections or legionella tests. Guests also don’t need safety certificates anymore. A flat £120 fee now exists for home-sharing applications.
This is for residents renting a room while living there. Previously, the minimum fee was £250. It could rise to £600. Councillors want more rooms available, especially during the Fringe.
High accommodation costs concern them. Performers struggle to afford lodging in August. Edinburgh needs more places to stay. Jason Manford called Edinburgh rents a “joke” last year.
Gail Porter canceled her Fringe show. She lacked funds to return home. Prices spiked when popular singers visited Edinburgh. Taylor Swift, Beyoncé, and Harry Styles performed there.
Oasis and AC/DC will also play soon. The Scottish Government started licensing short-term rentals in October 2023. Businesses worried about fewer beds and higher visitor costs.
Edinburgh approved almost 4,400 short-term rental applications. They received 4,722 applications total. Rule changes followed a public consultation. Neil Ross said the changes followed that feedback.
The consultation had 780 responses from the public. The changes reduce fees for home sharing. They also ease rules for temporary rentals. They still aim to regulate the short-term rental industry.
Fiona Campbell leads the Association of Scotland’s Self-Caterers. She called the changes an “embarrassing admission.” She said the SNP’s rules hurt Edinburgh’s economy. The rules also threaten the city’s festivals. Campbell says some operators spent thousands to comply.
But they now face closure. So the city opens the door to unregulated lodging. This accommodation could pose safety problems.
