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Furious Small Businesses Accuse Council of Hypocrisy in the Regulation of Airbnb Style Lets

Small businesses in the Capital are expressing their anger towards the council for its perceived hypocrisy in implementing plans to regulate Airbnb style lets while leasing one of its buildings for luxury holiday apartments. The move has sparked accusations of double standards and unfair treatment.

The council’s new licensing scheme aims to reduce the number of properties in the city used as short-term holiday lets, requiring self-catering properties, bed and breakfasts, and other short-term accommodation to apply for a license before October 1st. Failure to comply will result in them being forced to stop operating.

The council’s decision to lease its former headquarters to developers for the development of holiday let apartments has drawn criticism from small businesses. They argue that the council is profiting from prime real estate in the Old Town while simultaneously cracking down on similar forms of accommodation through their licensing scheme.

The council has leased the building, which underwent extensive refurbishment, to a property company, resulting in the establishment of Cheval Old Town Chambers. This luxurious accommodation offers deluxe serviced apartments with stunning views of the Royal Mile and Princes Street, as well as a 24-hour fitness center and a restaurant managed by the Bon Vivant Group. The apartments are marketed at a premium price, with weekly rates exceeding ┬ú3,000 and additional packages offering champagne and “pet pampering.”

In August 2021, plans were unveiled to expand the complex further with an additional 24 luxury apartments. These developments have fueled the frustration of small businesses as they witness the council cracking down on holiday letting while approving the expansion of a development they perceive to be in direct competition with their own ventures.

The AI legalese decoder could greatly assist the small businesses affected by this situation. By utilizing advanced machine learning algorithms, the decoder can analyze legal documents, regulations, and policies related to short-term lets. It can provide a comprehensive breakdown of the rules and requirements, helping businesses determine their eligibility for a license and identify any potential obstacles in obtaining planning permission. Additionally, the AI legalese decoder can offer guidance on how to navigate the licensing process and improve their chances of successfully operating in this changing landscape.

One business owner operating self-catering accommodation near the Old Town Chambers expressed despair, stating that they will likely be refused planning permission to continue operating while the council has permitted the luxury apartments. They referred to the situation as “sickening” and highlighted the discrepancy between the treatment of responsible independent operators and large corporate investors.

This controversy comes in the wake of a judge ruling certain aspects of the council’s plan to regulate Airbnb-style lets in Edinburgh as unlawful. Operators and landlords who opposed the scheme launched a crowdfunded court challenge, resulting in the judgment.

The council has defended the Old Town Chambers development, stating that it aligns with their agenda of reducing the impact of short-term lets on the housing market. They emphasize that the building at 329 High Street was leased to the property company four years before the licensing policy was announced. Furthermore, they assert that the conversion of disused office space into a mixed-use building with retail and restaurant components has preserved the historical integrity of the prominent building on the Royal Mile.

Councillor James Dalgliesh, the Planning Convener, stated that the council’s primary focus has always been on addressing poorly managed properties that negatively impact housing availability and cause antisocial behavior. He maintains that the Old Town Chambers development falls outside of this category, as it does not contribute to the shortage of residential homes.

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