OIC makes amendments to short term lets licensing scheme

Changes to controversial short term lets legislation has been agreed today, September 1, at a meeting of Orkney Island Council’s licensing committee.

The controversial legislation — instigated by the Scottish Government but administered at the local level — makes it a legal requirement for anyone renting property on a short letting basis to hold a licence.

After a consultation period, that chairman Duncan Tulloch noted had a “good response”, the committee have decided to:

• Reduce fees by 20 per cent across the board.
• Apply a further 25 per cent reduction for the ferry linked isles.
• Simplify the structure of the fees by size, by removing the highest fee and amalgamating the lowest two bands.

The fees in Orkney will therefore range form £310 to £510, and £232.50 to £382.50 for the ferry linked isles.

Aside from paying for the licence, the legislation, which comes in to effect in October 1, requires proof of safety checks and mandatory testing.

Among over 60 responses to the consultation many made criticism of the legislation in general, suggesting it was designed to address problems in other areas and was unfair to regions such as Orkney.