What is a Short Term Let control area?
Powers to designate Short Term Let Control Areas have been introduced to manage high concentrations of secondary lettings by restricting or preventing short term lets that affect the availability of residential housing and the character of the local community. Control areas can also help local authorities ensure that homes are used to best effect in their areas.
A Short-term Let Control Area is not a ban on short-term lets, instead it will allow planning policies to be used by local planning authorities to assess proposals which change the use of a dwellinghouse to a Short Term Let and allows communities and individuals the right to make representations through the planning application process.
What are the existing requirements with regard to licencing and planning permission for short term lets?
Currently, withing the whole of Argyll and Bute, all Short Term Lets require a licence, and details of those requirements are found - Short-term lets licence
In addition to requiring a licence, some short term lets may require planning consent. When a dwelling house is being proposed, or already used for short term letting, that use may constitute a material change of use in planning terms and thus require planning permission.
This potential requirement for planning permission is independent of the requirement for a Short Term Let License.
Determining when a material change of use has or will occur is complex and must be carried out on an individual basis for each proposal.
These existing requirements for planning permission would not be altered by the designation of a Short Term Let Control Area, and would continue to apply across the whole of Argyll and Bute, including within any area that may be designated as a Short Term Let Control Area.
Further information is provided on the Council’s webpage - Planning advice on short term lets
What is different in a Short Term Let control area?
In a Short Term Let Control Area planning permission will always be required for a new change of use of a dwellinghouse (including flats) to a Short Term Let.
Proposed Argyll and Bute Control Area
The Council wishes to consult with the public on designating a Short Term Let Control Area covering the geographical area shown on the map below:
- Proposed short term let control area - interactive map
- Proposed short term let control area map (PDF)
This public consultation will last for 6 weeks – (starting on 21st September and finishing on 1st November 2026).
The consultation aims to get views from the residents, businesses and communities about the proposed Short Term Let Control Areas.
The responses will be used by the Council to consider whether or not to designate a Short Term Let Control Area.
Proposed Short-term Lets Control Areas - online consultation
FAQs
Our consultation information page offers answers to frequently asked questions which you can find here
Reasons for Short Term Let Control Area designation
The reasons that the Council has for proposing the designation of a new Short Term Let Control Area and the geographical extent of the proposed Short Term Let Control Area are set out in the Statement of Reasons which you can find here - Statement of Reasons
