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Last updated
Airbnb lobbying revealed as SNP and Tories water down regulation
By Joe Lo. Published in the Ferret on 24 May 2019
Summary:
Green MSP aimed to combat some of [Airbnb's criticised] effects through an amendment to the planning bill going through parliament. This would require planning permission for anyone turning a home into a commercial let.
But Tory tourism spokesperson, , has said she plans to table a rival amendment which would mean people would only need planning permission to change a home to a commercial let in certain areas rather than the whole of Scotland.
Hamilton said her amendment would give councils control over how they deal with the issue. “Somewhere like Edinburgh can tackle problems head-on where they see fit,” she said, “while more rural areas where there isn’t that pressure can continue going about their business.” (...)
Now new data from the shows that Airbnb’s policy officer, Marie Lorimer, met twice with Hamilton and Conservative housing spokesperson, , to discuss the amendment – once in and once in . Lorimer also discussed the planning bill with Simpson in .
In November 2018, Lorimer also Scottish business minister, , to discuss “regulation of the collaborative economy – including tourism and short-term rentals”.
Airbnb also employs a specialist Edinburgh-based agency called to lobby on their behalf. According to one of their clients listed on their website, Halogen’s “contacts are excellent”.
Keywords: Edinburgh, Scotland, Scottish Parliament, MSPs, United Kingdom, UK, lobbying, Airbnb, Halogen Communications, tourism, tourist apartments, Andy Wightman, Rachael Hamilton, Marie Lorimer, Graham Simpson