Committee to consider 1 April 2027 start date for Short-Term Let Control Areas

5th November 2026

Members of The Highland Council’s Economy and Infrastructure Committee will be asked to agree that Short Term Let Control Areas (STLCAs) for Inverness City and Highland Rural come into effect from 1 April 2027.

The recommendation to the Committee follows the decision by Scottish Government Ministers on 26 October 2026 to approve designation of the STLCAs, which are an important tool to manage future loss of housing stock, support sustainable communities and balance housing needs with the visitor economy. 

Chair of the Council’s Economy and Infrastructure Committee, Cllr Ken Gowans, said: “Following Scottish Government approval, the Council can now move forward with implementing these STLCAs, which will help us strike a better balance between supporting tourism growth and protecting much-needed housing for local people. The introduction of STLCAs is not about stopping short-term lets, but about ensuring the future conversion of residential homes to short-term lets are properly considered through the planning system.”

The Council ran a six-week public consultation in May and June 2026, attracting more than 800 responses from residents, businesses, communities and short term let operators.

Support among residents was strong, with 84% of residents and businesses supporting the Inverness City proposal and 72% supporting the Highland Rural proposal.

The proposals, along with the consultation feedback, were then considered and recommended by the Council’s local area committees before the Economy and Infrastructure Committee agreed to submit STLCA proposals to Scottish Ministers on 28 September 2026.

At its meeting on Thursday 12 November 2026, the Economy and Infrastructure Committee will be asked to note the decision by Scottish Ministers and agree the publication of a statutory notice of designation, confirming a commencement date of 1 April 2027 for the STLCAs.

The Inverness City STLCA will cover the wards of Inverness West; Inverness Central; Inverness Ness-side; Inverness Millburn; and parts of Inverness South, including Westhill, Milton of Leys and Slackbuie.

The Highland Rural STLCA will cover Lochaber; Wester Ross, Strathpeffer and Lochalsh; Sutherland; Skye and Raasay; Aird and Loch Ness; and parts of Inverness South, including Tomatin and Daviot.

STLCAs would not apply retrospectively and would not prohibit short-term letting. Instead, they would ensure that future changes of use from residential housing to secondary short-term lets are subject to planning controls.

Any future conversion of a residential property to a secondary short term let within the designated control areas would require planning permission. Existing operators would continue to operate under the current arrangements unless planning permission would already have been required under existing planning legislation.