The Association of Scotland’s Self-Caterers (ASSC) has written to senior policymakers across the political spectrum, urging them to recognise fair and proportionate regulation of self-catering as an urgent issue for the forthcoming Scottish Parliament election.
The letters set out how the current regulatory environment for self-catering is increasingly unstable and inconsistent, as lawful and compliant businesses face growing uncertainty with the looming threat of closure for many. What was intended to be a balanced framework is in reality creating serious risks for businesses and local economies, particularly in rural, island and remote areas where self-catering plays a vital year-round role.
The ASSC highlights mounting concerns around the way planning permission and short-term let licensing rules are being applied by some local councils, often in ways that go beyond the intent of national Scottish Government policy.
Despite assurances that these regimes would be decoupled, they are increasingly being reconnected in practice, with operators facing licence refusal, non-renewal or additional planning hurdles even where no material harm has been evidenced.
The correspondence emphasises that this cannot be seen as a marginal sector issue as self-catering provides an annual £1bn boost to the Scottish economy and supports more than 29,000 jobs.
Continued regulatory drift and overreach risks further eroding business confidence, stalling investment and placing communities which rely on tourism under unnecessary strain. If left unaddressed, this issue risks becoming a litigation problem in the next Scottish Parliament.
The ASSC has therefore asked parties to commit to, as part of their election platforms, practical and deliverable solutions. These include a clear and unequivocal decoupling of short-term let planning and licensing regimes, stronger national guidance with defined limits on local discretion, and a review of planning policies that are currently enabling unintended and inconsistent outcomes. These asks align directly with the ASSC Manifesto for the 2026 Scottish Parliamentary Election.
The trade body has made clear that early political leadership can prevent further escalation and provide a much-needed reset with industry. They have also invited parties to engage directly with the sector to shape workable solutions early in the next Parliament.
Fiona Campbell MBE, CEO of the Association of Scotland’s Self-Caterers, said: “Our sector is fully supportive of fair and proportionate regulation but what it cannot sustain is a system that is unclear, inconsistent and increasingly adversarial in nature.
“If Scotland’s £1bn self-catering sector is to continue playing its positive role in communities across Scotland, we sincerely hope that all parties take heed of the concerns being raised by responsible operators and commit to engaging constructively with us.
“By working together, we can secure the correct regulatory balance that benefits all stakeholders and fixes this issue once and for all.”
A copy of the letter can be viewed here.
