The STLCA for Ward 20, which covers Aviemore, Carrbridge, Boat of Garten, Dalwhinnie Grantown-on-Spey, Kingussie, and Newtonmore, has been in place for two years and was one of the first to be designated in Scotland.

The ward has historically seen a high proportion of properties sold to buyers from out with the local area.

Within a STLCA, planning permission is required to change the use of an existing dwelling house – where the owner does not live – to a short term let. Control areas help local authorities manage levels of short-term letting where it impacts the availability of housing for local people, or the character and amenity of neighbourhoods, ensuring homes are used to best effect.

Analysis of data available since the Badenoch and Strathspey area was designated as an STLCA suggests:

• Fewer new-house builds are being converted to short-term lets, in contrast to other areas in Highland.
• Fewer properties being sold are being converted to short-term lets, in contrast to other areas in Highland.
• The number of dwelling homes registered as short term lets is either declining, remaining constant, or rising more slowly than the Highland average, across the area.
• These early indications suggest the STLCA has potentially influenced some short-term let operators to exit the sector and deterred some new entrants from investing in residential properties for short-term let use in the area.

Members of the Badenoch and Strathspey Committee at the Highland Council welcomed the update this week, acknowledging the current data available. They noted the area had not lost any capacity in terms of Short Term Let availability since the introduction of the control area, the importance of supporting STL owners in the area, and ensuring a balance between STLs and residential properties.

Trends will continue to be monitored as more data becomes available, alongside the housing need and demand assessment for Highland.