Properties in Scotland used for short-term lets will need to get licences from local councils by 2024 under new laws tabled by the Scottish government.

Ministers want to tackle the growth of rentals on platforms like Airbnb in popular tourist areas like Edinburgh.

Local councils will be given powers to set up licensing schemes and can charge fees to cover their costs.

Housing Secretary Shona Robison said the move would make sure lets are safe and their landlords suitable.

The government has held a series of consultations on the plans but saw a number of groups resign from a working group in frustration, calling it a “sham” and a “charade”.

Ministers want to increase regulation of short-term rental properties in response to concerns raised by some communities about spiralling rents and claims of disruption.

Legislation to let councils introduce “control areas” for short-term lets has already been passed, with one proposed in Edinburgh – a city believed to host more than a third of Scotland’s holiday lets.

And the new bill – if passed by MSPs – would see local councils draw up their own licensing schemes by October 2022. Existing hosts and operators would have until April 2023 to apply for a licence for each property, with a requirement for all short-term lets to be licensed by July 2024.

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