Supporting Self-Catering in Scotland. The trade association representing the
#SelfCatering
#ShortTermLet
sector. Member benefits, support, representation.
"Our vision is that the ASSC takes the leading role in supporting and promoting a vibrant and prosperous self-catering sector which is recognised as pivotal to the future of Scotland’s Tourism Economy."
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"WELLBEING Economy Secretary Neil Gray has insisted that the Scottish Government will not back down on pushing ahead with the short term lets licensing scheme."
"Humza Yousaf has been sent a letter signed by over a thousand people in the tourism sector pleading for a U-turn just weeks before a key application deadline for short term let (STL)"
"STL owners are unable to comply with the SNP's new licensing scheme due to a shortage of tradesmen in rural parts of Scotland. Only around one in five of Scotland's 32,000 operators have applied for a licence ahead of the October 1 deadline."
‼️As a result of persistent pressure from the ASSC & industry partners, the ASSC has received official notification from the Scottish Government announcing that short-term let licensing has been delayed by 6 months.
@st_alliance
@FionaCampbell74
@ScotAgritourism
@ETAG_UK
"After forking out large fees, small businesses throughout Scotland face an anxious wait simply to continue what they have been doing for years without issue" Fiona Campbell, ASSC Chief Exec
“Two things are clear: the Scottish Government is demonising law-abiding people who let their properties for self-catering or welcome guests into a spare bedroom, while at the same time signalling to tourists that they are not welcome.”
"Regulating holiday lets out of existence will not lead to a flood of affordable homes on the market.
In fact, it will likely lead to increased second home ownership with no commensurate economic benefit that you see with self-catering and B&Bs.”
"I met with the minister last Wednesday & he did concede that businesses will close & that the livelihoods of those who depend on those businesses will be lost. Health & safety is just a cover story that was used to pass this legislation"
We (team ASSC) would like to express our heartfelt gratitude to members, operators and colleagues in the sector for their continued resilience and unwavering support to this incredible sector. 1/5
"I never expected to see it: At Holyrood this week - bed and breakfast owners demonstrating against the Scottish Government!
It’s hard to conceive of a group in society less likely to have become a protest group."
We are delighted that self-catering can welcome guests again from 3rd July, this is fantastic news & a lifeline for our Members & our sector thanks to
@FergusEwingMSP
@NicolaSturgeon
@st_alliance
A letter with over 1,500 signatories working in Scottish tourism has been sent to the First Minister Humza Yousaf urging him to pause the Scottish Government’s plans for short-term let licensing.
Read now:
@FionaCampbell74
@VisitScotNews
@SaveSCScotland
ASSC Chair, Adrienne Carmichael, has written to First Minister Humza Yousaf to warn its licensing regulations may be in breach of the European Convention on Human Rights, as well as privacy and data protection laws.
“To mock people that have faced sleepless nights and an existential threat to their livelihoods is unbecoming in someone of Mr Harvie’s position and undermines his credibility as an elected representative with the interests of his constituents at heart.” Fiona Campbell, ASSC
"People are pro regulation – that isn’t the issue here. The issue is the complexity of a scheme dreamed up by civil servants with no experience of how short-term lets work in the real world."
The First Minister appears to be asleep at the wheel when his government needs to urgently change direction to support the small businesses that cement our place as a world-leading tourist destination.
There is no denying it – the result of yesterday’s vote on the flawed STL legislation was hugely disappointing. What’s worse? The realisation that the Minister and others in government don’t understand their own policy. 1/10
🎉 We are absolutely thrilled to announce that our CEO, Fiona Campbell, has been shortlisted as CEO of the Year, in The Scottish Women's Awards 2023!! 🎉
Congratulations Fiona, the ASSC team couldn't be more proud!!
Read more here:
@FionaCampbell74
Wishing the JR team best of luck in today as they attend the JR2 Hearing at the Court of Session in Edinburgh & thanking them for their unwavering support as they continue to tirelessly champion the rights of self-catering operators not only in Edinburgh but across Scotland.
"We're not just self caterer's, who buy property to sit back & watch money roll in. We're Jack of all trades; decorators, plumbers & electricians; we're problem solvers & solutions finders; we're marketeers, administrators & hospitality professionals. No buck is an easy buck."
The Association of Scotland’s Self-Caterers (ASSC) has hit out at First Minister Humza Yousaf over the Scottish Government’s treatment of Scotland’s £867m self-catering industry.
We're delighted to acknowledge
@cllrcammyday
recognition of the necessity to review the impending 1 October STL deadline on BBC Radio Scotland at lunchtime today.
Lord Braid has, this morning, found in favour of Iain Muirhead And Dickins Edinburgh Limited’s Judicial Review Petition regarding
@Edinburgh_CC
Short-Term Let (
#STL
) Planning Control Area.
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Great news to have a potential opening date of 15 Jul for accommodation in Scotland & thanks to
@FergusEwingMSP
for comments on Self-Catering
@st_alliance
A plan to regulate Airbnb-style lets in Edinburgh has been ruled unlawful by a judge less than four months before it was due to come into force.
After a two-day hearing at the Court of Session, Lord Braid agreed that part of the proposal was unlawful.
“Painfully but predictably, the SNP are once again ignoring siren warnings from businesses (remember the botched Deposit Return Scheme?) and ploughing ahead regardless.”
Roadside “no vacancies” signs no more; full Scottish breakfasts no more; modest earnings for hospitable homes with a spare room, no more …. And for what? Does the devolved Government of Scotland have nothing more pressing to legislate upon?
Dawn to dusk, we continue to fight for Scotland’s proud, hard-working self-catering sector. Evenings like this are a reminder of why we do what we do. We welcome visitors from all over the world to this beautiful country
#Scotland
“Self-catering offers a sustainable and affordable choice for those choosing to holiday in Scotland, with guests benefiting communities through spending money in local businesses.”
The debate around short-term lets has intensified and so too have the misconceptions about the licensing scheme and why self-catering hosts and B&B owners are sounding the alarm. 1/13
"A better approach would be to build more homes, make more land available to build them on, and to encourage the economic growth in rural areas that would support jobs.
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ASSC CEO, Fiona Campbell responds to Edinburgh Judicial Review case Win!
"In what was the largest Crowdfunding effort in Scottish legal history, I pay tribute to the determination of the four petitioners as well as the many small business owners who donated to the cause."
“The motivations behind these plans are good. However, introducing an overly heavy-handed crackdown on a tourism-related problem, while simultaneously trying to milk a sector that has long been a cash cow for the Scottish economy, risks disaster.”
"The row over Scotland’s controversial new laws on Airbnb-style properties took a new twist last night when it was claimed the legislation could be illegal."
Fiona Campbell, of the Association of Scotland's Self-Caterers, described the First Minister as being "disinterested and disengaged" in his response as operators raised concerns over aspects of the law many say is too expensive and unwieldy:
Following the biggest crowdfunder in legal history, we would like to wish the Judicial Review team the very best of luck as they head to court
@SaveSCScotland
. Efforts to protect our sector are truly inspiring. Thank you for driving this forward & standing up for our community.
Disturbing findings from recent ASSC Snap Survey on STL Licensing: 69% haven't applied for a licence, nearly 50% experiencing new mental health issues. "We stand ready to work with the Scottish Government to get things right."
“The first minister vowed that his government “will continue to support Scotland’s thriving tourism sector”, not least by drastically reducing the supply and availability of short-term letting accommodation.”
Pressure is mounting on the first minister to pause short-term lets regulations as a group of cross-party MSPs has called for a rethink of the scheme which risks “irreparable damage” to the tourism industry.
@st_alliance
@FionaCampbell74
@SGHBBA_tweets
David Smythe MBE, former Chairman of the Association of Scotland’s Self Caterers, and operator of a short-term let for over 34 years, has written to First Minister, Humza Yousaf MSP, outlining his concerns about the impending scheme:
Dunkeld businesses and residents back new attempt to save top-rated Airbnb flat…
“It is important to have self-catering options in Birnam as we rely on tourism to keep our business going and locals in jobs.”
via
@thecourieruk
The SNP is launching draconian new rules for landlords. So what, you say? Just wait till you go to book that lovely B&B again for next summer... and find it shut for good via
@MailOnline
With just over a week to go, SNP MSP Fergus Ewing joined Holyrood parliamentarians from the Scottish Tories, Scottish Labour and Scottish LibDems calling for an intervention from Scotland’s top law officer.
Scotland's self-catering community under the spotlight... Multiple press outlets are covering the ongoing
#STL
crisis. At ASSC, we shed light on diverse perspectives & challenges faced by operators. See related news articles:
"The pressure to change the proposed rules, which for many months now has been led by the Association of Scotland’s Self-Caterers, has risen to a crescendo over recent weeks, amid claims that it is “demonising” many small business owners."
Scottish ministers told councils six months ago to operate a “light-touch” approach to home swaps under its short-term lets policy but kept the industry in the dark, it has emerged.
Predictable accommodation fiasco hits Edinburgh as leading trade body calls for urgent change to STL regulations. (1/19)
@FionaCampbell74
@SaveSCScotland
"I met Linda last week... not only did Mr McLennan tell her that she should look for another job, but subsequently a member of staff said she could go on benefits should she not be able to get a job." said Mr Fraser
First Minister Humza Yousaf is yet to take up the request to meet with industry leaders.
“We've heard nothing despite the fact that, during the leadership election, he readily agreed to meet,” said Ms Campbell on Friday.
Short-term lets have often been used as a scapegoat for wider housing challenges. With just 1,181 self-catering businesses in Edinburgh on non-domestic rates, compared to 1,201 in 2010, there are over 240,000 dwellings in Edinburgh, over 9,200 of which are empty homes.
We could not be prouder! Huge congratulations to ASSC CEO Fiona Campbell on winning the Thistle Award for the West Regional Ambassador 🎉🍾🥳🥂🎊🎉
@VisitScotNews
#ThistleAwards
“The Scottish Tourism Alliance, along with colleagues from a number of business organisations within in Scotland have consistently highlighted the unintended consequences of the STL legislation directly to the Scottish Government”:
Police officers do not have the capacity to investigate breaches of short-term letting licences in Scotland and complaints will not be a “high priority” for them, councils across the country have been warned.
Humza Yousaf has been warned thousands of jobs could be lost if he presses on with the introduction of new licensing regulations for tourist accommodation. A massive 64 per cent of businesses say they are considering their future due to the scheme:
“As the botched deposit return scheme & the govt determination to destroy self-catering & other parts of the tourism sector each help demonstrate, the Scottish Gov appetite for regulatory interference is as colossal as its ability to deliver is emaciated.”
The “flawed and inequitable legislation”, as described by the Scottish Bed & Breakfast Association (SBBA), will hit small businesses, including B&Bs, and self-catering units in the pocket.
On
#WorldTourismDay
, let's celebrate Scotland's remarkable self-catering sector! 🏡
This resilient sector not only enables unforgettable experiences for global visitors, but also supports local communities and economies across Scotland.
#TourismMatters
@FionaCampbell74
Mr Ewing MSP said: “I am appalled that hard-working law abiding small businesses were told to make an application for change of use only to find that it was never necessary at all.
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@FionaCampbell74
@clarecoruisk
@st_alliance
"Most of Scotland's current 17,800 self-catering units operate flawlessly, providing nearly 30,000 jobs and a visitor spend of some £867 million. The ill-conceived licencing plan only creates further unnecessary levels of bureacracy and complexity"
“The potential loss of short-term let accommodations could impact the country’s position as a leading tourist destination, further aggravating the economic challenges faced by local communities.”
Fiona Campbell, ASSC chief executive, said the Highland Council scheme “remains unfit for purpose,” and argued that it will “cost jobs and damage the tourist sector.”
Scotland’s STL community remains in the spotlight, with extensive coverage across media outlets including BBC Radio and STV.
As the deadline for STL legislation approaches, expect a surge in coverage as we continue the fight to PAUSE... Catch up here:
Fiona Campbell, CEO of the ASSC, said: “We have sent Dundee City Council a pre-action notification.
“They can avoid a judicial review if they agree to amend their policy to ensure that it is lawful."
@FionaCampbell74
@st_alliance
@SaveSCScotland
“To mock people that have faced sleepless nights and an existential threat to their livelihoods is unbecoming in someone of Mr Harvie’s position and undermines his credibility as an elected representative with the interests of his constituents at heart.” Fiona Campbell, ASSC
“Short-term lets were scapegoated for all manner of ills and treated as a panacea for wider housing challenges despite the fact that they make up only 0.7 per cent of Edinburgh’s total housing stock."
💚 The ASSC team had another memorable gathering in the beautiful city of Edinburgh this week 💚
We deeply value these opportunities for team bonding and collaborative brainstorming, especially during these challenging times for the self-catering industry.
@FionaCampbell74
"Short-term lets were scapegoated for all manner of ills and treated as a panacea for wider housing challenges despite the fact that they make up only 0.7% of Edinburgh’s total housing stock."
"Well what now? Our efforts to reverse this legislation, or at least make it workable, will continue as long as there is still something left to fight for. Government."
@FionaCampbell74
@SaveSCScotland
@st_alliance
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A hugely valuable meeting with the Cabinet Secretary for Rural Economy and Tourism,
@FergusEwingSNP
, and the
@st_alliance
Hospitality Forum. Discussion focused on travel restrictions and ongoing financial support, as well as Short-Term Let Regulations.
The Scottish self-catering industry has slammed ministers for dismissing its concerns over a licensing regime for STL accommodation, as new figures show majority of operators have still to apply to scheme shortly before it is due to go live in October.