Two new major short-term let control zones approved for the Highlands

Two major short-term let control areas for the Highlands have been approved by councillors.

The zone for Inverness and the other covering a large part of the region including Lochaber, Loch Ness area and Skye, are to come into effect from 1 April next year.

Within the zones, planning permission is required to change the use of a residential property into Airbnb-style accommodation.

They are designed to reduce the number of properties becoming holiday lets instead of homes for people, including young families and workers.

Highland Council introduced a short-term let control area (STLCA) for Badenoch and Strathspey in 2024.

The latest decision by the local authority's economy and infrastructure committee follows Scottish government approval and a six-week public consultation.

Highland Council said control areas were not a ban on short-term lets, or affected empty properties or purpose-built holiday accommodation.

It said it wanted to achieve "a better balance" between tourism growth and local housing needs.

It has previously said some parts of the Highlands were experiencing "strong demand" from buyers outside the Highlands, with a "significant number" of sold or new-built properties subsequently converted into short-term lets.

It said in Skye and Lochalsh 13.6% of homes sold between 2019-2020 and 2023-2024 became short-term lets.

The council said in Inverness there was an issue with flats in the city centre and certain streets being turned into holiday accommodation.

Committee chairman Ken Gowans said: "STLCAs will help us strike a better balance between supporting tourism growth and protecting much-needed housing for local people.

"The introduction of STLCAs is not about stopping short-term lets, but about ensuring the future conversion of residential homes to short-term lets are properly considered through the planning system."

The Association of Scotland's Self-Caters has previously raised concerns about control zones, saying there were better ways of increasing the availability of homes.

Inverness City STLCA will cover the council wards of Inverness West, Inverness Central, Inverness Ness-side, Inverness Millburn and parts of Inverness South, including Westhill, Milton of Leys and Slackbuie.

Highland Rural STLCA will include the wards of Lochaber, Wester Ross, Strathpeffer and Lochalsh, Sutherland, Skye and Raasay, Aird and Loch Ness and parts of Inverness South, including Tomatin and Daviot.