Short-term let application approved by councillors after objections
A SHORT term let licence application for a property in Lerwick which attracted two objections has been approved by councillors.
The objections included concern that the house in the Park Lane area becoming a short-term property let could increase noise and anti-social behaviour.
But elected members on Shetland Islands Council’s (SIC) licensing committee approved the application – which came from local VisitScotland manager Steve Mathieson – at a meeting this morning (Monday).
Councillors felt there were no grounds for refusal.
However Shetland Central member Moraig Lyall said she had a “philosophical issue” with the growing number of short-term lets generally – particularly when it comes to the availability of long-term affordable housing.
In a letter shared with the committee, Mathieson wrote in response to the objections that he was “fully committed” to ensuring that the one-bedroom property is operated responsibly and with consideration for neighbours.
“The property is intended to accommodate visitors to Shetland seeking quality, short-stay accommodation rather than large groups or parties,” he added.
“It will not be marketed as a party venue, and clear house rules will be in place regarding neighbourly behaviour, noise levels and respect for the surrounding area.”
There has been concern from some over anti-social behaviour in the lanes area of Lerwick, and one objection said “homeowners are surrounded by people [in neighbouring properties] who are not invested in the area”.
That objection, from a neighbour, added that police attended at a property in the area in August “using riot shields to gain entry due to an aggressive dog preventing them from speaking to the tenants”.
“If we can have this level of disruption with a long term let, we can only imagine the issues with short term lets and constant turnover,” it added.
Another objection said the application would remove a property used for long-term let, adding that there is a “loss of community residents”.
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That objection said that the remaining residents in the lanes are experiencing “excessive noise and anti-social behaviour”.
Encouraging the licensing committee to judge the application on its own merits, Mathieson also wrote to say that the property would be managed by Shetland Stays.
He also suggested that visitors staying in licensed accommodation can often be “less disruptive than some longer-term occupancies, as they are generally visiting the area for tourism, business or family reasons and have no interest in causing disturbance”.
“The fact that nearly 80 per cent of visitors to Shetland are 45 years old and above (Shetland Visitor Survey 2024) is also relevant regarding likelihood to cause nuisance.”
Mathieson also highlighted how tourism is an important contributor to Shetland’s economy, and providing “quality licensed accommodation” helps meet visitor demand while ensuring appropriate standards of safety and management are maintained.
He believed that concerns over antisocial behaviour relate to other properties and do not provide evidence that the same problems would occur at the short-term let house with a “different demographic”.
When it came up for discussion at the licensing committee on Monday there was unanimous agreement that there were no grounds for refusal.
Councillors were told that while allegations of antisocial behaviour in the lanes area and Park Lane gardens have been raised with SIC’s environmental health team, no complaints have been received in relation to noise or disturbance from short-term lets there.
Commenting on the wider issue of the rise of short-term lets, Lyall said it was becoming “harder and harder” for young couples to get on the property ladder.
The decision comes after another application for a short-term let licence came to the licensing committee in April.
The application the property on Lerwick’s Commercial Road drew objections from neighbours over concerns including increased noise and disturbance.
The meeting had heard that the home housed agency staff working in social care for the council, with the application ultimately being approved.
In both cases the applications only came before councillors on the licensing committee because they received objections.
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