The tenants’ union said there is a serious need for short-term let reform across Scotland and people should not be “held to ransom by a few festival venues”. They say that the proliferation of short-term lets has led to a decrease in homes available to residents.

Cabinet secretary for social justice, housing and local government Shona Robison told the Scottish Parliament this week that the deadline for landlords to apply for licences on their short-term lets will be extended by six months.

Living Rent said that the licensing scheme should be as strict as possible, that there should be no ‘temporary exemptions’ on licences for periods up to six weeks. It argues that all homes should have to be licensed from day one and that all prospective holiday makers deserve to live in licensed, safe accommodation.

Hollie Irvine, a member of Living Rent Highlands and Islands, said: “A crack-down on short-term lets is needed across Scotland but particularly in the Highlands and Islands. Every short term let means one less family able to live in our communities.

“Our communities are small, and the impact is devastating. The demand for Short Term Lets is inflating the price of housing and pushing up rents. The destruction of our communities in this way is causing our neighbours to leave, and shops and schools to close. Those who do stay are forced into informal homelessness, staying with family and friends where they have no choice but to live with family and friends, rough it in freezing caravans and sheds, or precariously rent these tourist properties in the off season. The rest of us have no choice but to leave the region and move elsewhere.

“Depopulation is destroying our communities and turning the Highlands and Islands into a ghost town. Our communities are clear - we urgently need action now to crack down on short-term lets. The longer we have to wait for these protections, the more damage is done.”

Eilidh Keay, Living Rent member in Edinburgh, added: “Short-term lets are ruining the community. The number of STLs has skyrocketed in recent years. With such a high number of short-term lets, our communities are being torn apart.

“With landlords buying up housing to turn into short-term lets, this is also having a huge impact on our rents across the city. We are being pushed out by a lack of flats and hiked up prices for the flats that remain.

“The current proposals for short-term lets do not address the fundamental issue that we already have too many. Though the city wants to cap the amount of STL’s available, this ignores the fact that Edinburgh has been in crisis with short-term lets for years. In order to bring about any real change for the people who actually live in the city we need to bring the number down.”

Aditi Jehangir, secretary of Living Rent, said: “Scotland needs clear, firm, restrictions on short term lets that work for residents not just businesses.

“The proliferation of STLs show how they are allowed to run havoc in our communities at the expense of residents and tenants. Living Rent believes we need government intervention on this now.

“For a set of businesses to hold residents across Scotland to ransom is disgusting. For every short-term let that exists, there is one less home in our communities. The lack of homes, combined with the inflated rent of those that are available due to a shortage of housing, is a perfect storm for tenants and is seriously impacting tenants and families ability to live where they like.”