At its meeting on the 8th January, Fife Council’s Cabinet Committee rejected a report by council officials recommending against the implementation of short-term let control areas (STLCAs) on the grounds that STLs have a limited impact on housing compared to other types of properties, such as HMOs and second homes, and a fear that their introduction would hurt the tourism economy.
While officials suggested existing licensing is sufficient, councillors disagreed, citing the need for tighter regulation—particularly in areas like the East Neuk and St Andrews, where STLs are impacting housing supply.
Lib Dem councillor James Calder said there was a clear need to address the number of STLs in certain areas and tabled an amendment proposing STLCAs focused specifically on the East Neuk and St Andrews.
“We’ve clearly had a very significant response from residents in those areas, and quite clearly the majority will be backing having some kind of SLTCA,” Mr Calder said. “It’s important we take into account what was said in this consultation – we need to consider what has been said by the residents in the areas affected.”
He added: “We’ve got quite a large number of communities where there is a very significant number of short term lets – Elie and Earlferry in particular. It’s turning some of these villages and towns into effectively ghost towns, and it’s affecting facilities such as schools.”
SNP councillor John Beare agreed, saying: “We now have a situation where, as I understand it, there is at least one community in Fife where more than 60 per cent of the residential accommodation is either STL or holiday let – that clearly has an implication for the services we are able to provide and for residents.”
Concerns about the impact of STLs on housing availability had been raised previousy by local Lib Dem MSP Willie Rennie, who said that bringing in the control areas in the East Neuk and St Andrews would “provide a degree of control” over further properties being converted into STLs.
The Council will now consider how to implement a SLT control policy focusing on the East Neuk and St Andrews.
