Five MSPs have shared their views on the “big housing problem” in the Highlands. According to property website, there are currently only 23 properties to rent in the whole region, 15 of them in Inverness. A leading estate agent explained they get dozens of applicants for a property and close viewings after the first day.
Karine MacRae Simpson, Director of Tailormade Moves, told the Press and Journal they get around 40 applications for a standard two-bedroom flat. She explained: “We close viewings once we have a suitable qualified applicant, which could be after the first day of viewings, or it could take a few days. “After Covid, despite the rent cap imposed by the Scottish Government, average rents have increased dramatically.
” Meanwhile, the Highlands is the Scottish local authority with the highest number of Airbnb properties, with 3,567, according to the 2023 Airbnb Scotland Survey. Airbnb’s website shows there are more than 700 short-term lets just in Inverness city centre. Meanwhile, Skye seems to be the largest Airbnb hotspot, with more than 1,000 across the island and nearly 200 just in Portree.
came into effect in Scotland in October 2022, making it a requirement for new hosts to apply for a short-term license before accepting bookings or receiving guests. It also allowed local councils to create control areas to manage high concentrations of short-term lets. However, several MSPs and residents think these measures are not enough and believe further restr.
