The Association of Scotland’s Self-Caterers (ASSC) welcomes East Lothian Council’s decision to launch a consultation on its short-term let (STL) licensing policy and is urging local self-caterers to make their voice heard during the review process.
The Council’s STL licensing scheme has now been in operation for nearly three years. The new consultation provides an important opportunity for local businesses to share their experiences, highlight areas of concern, and propose constructive improvements to the regulatory regime.
East Lothian is home to hundreds of licensed STL properties which significantly contribute to the local economy, providing flexible accommodation options and supporting jobs in rural and coastal communities.
Last year, an independent analysis from BiGGAR Economics estimated that short-term lets generated £14m GVA per annum and supported nearly 500 jobs in East Lothian alone.
Furthermore, and contrary to popular perception, such properties only account for a small proportion (0.8%) of the total dwellings in East Lothian, compared to 2.2% for empty homes.
The Council’s STL licensing consultation remains open until 12th September 2025, with feedback being sought on the application process, compliance requirements, and the potential introduction of temporary exemptions and licenses amongst others, all areas which greatly impact how self-catering businesses operate.
The ASSC remains committed to supporting its members in East Lothian and throughout Scotland and will be submitting a formal response to the consultation on behalf of the sector in due course.
Fiona Campbell MBE, CEO of the Association of Scotland’s Self-Caterers, said:
“We are pleased to see East Lothian Council sticking to its commitment to undertake a review of its short-term let licensing policy. This is a vital opportunity for affected businesses to provide feedback based on their real-world experience with the current system.
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Self-catering provides an annual £14m boost to the local economy and it is essential that this substantial contribution is recognised in policymaking so that any changes strike the right balance. Heading into this consultation, it is also important to tackle head on the misconception that STLs are fuelling the housing crisis. In fact, there are nearly three times as many economically inactive empty homes in East Lothian than STLs.
The ASSC sincerely hopes that the outcome of this consultation can help shape a fairer, more proportionate regulatory framework that supports both local communities and small businesses. While this will be a busy time for those in our vital tourist industry, we strongly encourage all those with an interest to respond before the deadline.”
