A report presented to councillors on 30 June 2026 considered whether special planning controls were required for the purpose of running short-term lets, including holiday rentals. After looking into the report, councillors agreed with the officer’s recommendation to not look into the next steps of allocating any control areas.

The review identified that while there are short-term lets in areas like Cullen, Findhorn and Lossiemouth, the amount overall is fairly small in comparison to the overall housing stock.

As of yet, 753 short-term let licences have been given in Moray and there was no concrete evidence that short-term lets are lowering the availability of housing for locals or increasing house prices. 

Councillors said that short-term lets serve a key position in helping tourism and the local economy, especially in areas which are coastal or rural. 

Councillor Kathleen Robertson, the council leader, said: “After carefully reviewing the information, we’ve taken a balanced decision not to introduce Short-Term Let Control Areas at this time.

“We know there are concerns in some communities, but the data shows that short-term lets are limited in number and mainly concentrated in a few areas. There is no strong evidence that they are causing widespread problems for housing or local services.

“Tourism is vital to Moray, and short-term lets are part of that success story. We will continue to keep this under review and take action if the situation changes in future.”

In response to the council’s move, Fiona Campbell MBE, chief executive of the Association of Scotland’s Self-Caterers (ASSC), said: “Common sense has prevailed in Moray. 

“While a number of other local authorities have pressed ahead with control areas without a proper evidence base, scapegoating legitimate businesses and risking real damage to local tourism economies in the process, Moray Council took the time to fully examine the data and has shown what proper evidence-based policymaking actually looks like. We commend them for it and others should follow their lead.”

Campbell added: “Self-catering alone generates more than £10m a year for the Moray economy and supports hundreds of local jobs and we are proud of that contribution. Given how much is at stake, decisions like this should never be driven by assumption or perception.”

Moray Council will proceed with looking into short-term let activity and can reconsider the option of control areas, should circumstances take a different direction.