Self-caterers protest against being "scapegoated" by Perth and Kinross Council for housing crisis
The Association of Scotland's Self-Caterers (ASSC) has claimed its industry is being scapegoated by Perth and Kinross Council (PKC) and other governing bodies.
On Friday, June 27, the group held a demonstration outside PKC's headquarters as part of a Scotland-wide campaign.
The self-catering body believes blaming the self-catering sector for Scotland's housing emergency could spark a "crisis in Scottish tourism" and "risk hammering an £864 million self-catering sector that underpins Scottish tourism".
An ASSC spokesperson said self-caterers had "become an easy target for lazy attempts to scapegoat the sector, rather than deal with the real issues at hand; utilising empty properties and building more affordable housing".
The association said, in Perth and Kinross, self-catering properties account for 1.7 per cent of housing stock while 5.5 per cent of Perth and Kinross homes lie empty and inactive.
The group argued it represents "hard-working legitimate local businesses" who "create jobs, support communities and welcome the world with affordable, flexible and quality stays".
ASSC chief executive Fiona Campbell MBE said: "Hard-pressed self-catering operators will be experiencing more than a little sense of déjà vu as their sector is once again scapegoated for a shortage of homes. Recycling the same tired calls for even stricter controls on short-term lets, despite no evidence it will ease housing pressures, is regulatory overkill. They risk hammering an £864 million self-catering sector that underpins Scottish tourism.
"Our message is clear: you won't solve a housing crisis by initiating a crisis in Scottish tourism by decimating local businesses underpinning local economies. Attention must shift to the real causes of the housing crisis and stop scapegoating self-catering."
Earlier this year, on Wednesday, May 7, PKC's elected members voted by 24 votes to 14 to begin the process of introducing a short-term let planning control area for Highland and North Eastern Perthshire.
Previously in August 2024 Perth and Kinross Council's (PKC) Economy and Infrastructure Committee narrowly voted against the proposal by a single vote.
The paper put before councillors in May 2025 said research "identified STLs [short-term lets] as a contributor to housing pressure with the greatest impact in northern and eastern parts of Perth and Kinross" and said there was "limited land available to build more housing to address residential and demand from commercial STLs, in northern and eastern parts of Perth and Kinross".
By February 2025, Perth and Kinross Council had granted 1699 licences for secondary short-term lets with the majority (49 per cent) in Highland Perthshire ward, 18 per cent in Greater Perth, 15 per cent in both Eastern and Strathearn and three per cent in Kinross, with numbers said to be increasing.
A PKC spokesperson said: "Perth and Kinross Council agreed to carry out public consultation on proposals to introduce short-term let control areas in Highland Perthshire and the northern part of the Eastern housing area in May due to an increasing number of proposals for holiday rentals and the shortage of affordable homes in those areas.
"The short-term let control area means owners who want to turn dwelling houses into holiday rentals now also need to get planning permission, as was already required for people who want to turn flats into short-term lets. It would not impact existing holiday rental properties.
"The new rules will allow the public and elected members to have a greater say on whether they think the proposal is appropriate in those areas with the highest concentration of holiday rentals by considering the likely noise, impact on public services and amenities and effect on the overall character of a neighbourhood.
"If the council decides to proceed with a short-term let control area it will need to be approved by the Scottish Government.
"The higher concentration of holiday lets and second homes in these areas can reduce the availability of long-term rental housing and inflate property prices, making it harder for local residents to find homes. While we have not formally declared a housing emergency, we have developed a comprehensive action plan to address the housing pressures in Perth and Kinross. The core issue lies in the overall shortage of housing."
The council said it was taking a number of steps to bring vacant homes back into use as well as building new affordable housing.
The council spokesperson added: "To tackle this, the council has taken several proactive steps such as purchasing 134 properties from the open market, delivered 107 new-build homes in partnership with developers and housing associations, brought 23 long-term empty properties back into use and implemented a range of measures aimed at preventing homelessness wherever possible.
"To further address the problem of empty homes, the council has increased council tax on second homes and is working closely with private landlords and homeowners to return vacant properties to active use."
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