Civic Government (Scotland) Act 1982 (Licensing of Short-term Lets) (Amendment) Order 2024: impact assessments

4. Equalities Impact Assessment (EQIA)

This is a summary of the EQIA.

4.1 Summary of aims and desired outcomes of policy

See section 2 for a summary breakdown of provisions.

4.2 Executive Summary

The EQIA demonstrates that there are no potentially negative impacts to equality groups as a result of the introduction of the legislation, with minor positive impacts for elderly and disabled people.

4.3 Background

See section 1 for background information.

4.4 The Scope of the EQIA

This EQIA build upon the one published in December 2020 for the Short-Term Lets Licensing Scheme – 10. Equalities Impact Assessment (EQIA) - Short-term lets – licensing scheme and planning control areas: consultation analysis - gov.scot (www.gov.scot).

This EQIA has taken into account the provisions within the 2024 Amendment Order on equality groups.

4.5 Key Findings

No negative impacts have been identified as a result of the EQIA process. The exclusion of guest rooms in certain types of accommodation may have a minor positive impact or benefit older people and disabled people. Based on stakeholder feedback, there may be a positive impact on sheltered housing (including retirement housing, independent living accommodation, sheltered, amenity and extra care accommodation). This is because providers can continue to provide guest rooms within these types of residential accommodation for the purpose of those visiting residents without the need for a short-term let licence.

4.6 Recommendations and Conclusion

Our assessment is that the legislation does not give rise to any equality issues and a full EQIA is not required.

4.7 Monitoring and Review

Local authorities are required to share data on short-term letting activity in their areas with Scottish Government on a quarterly basis. The Scottish Government Communities Analysis Division use this information to prepare a quarterly statistical publications on short-term let licence applications.