Scottish Labour has welcomed news that after a relentless campaign from Labour the Scottish Government has at long agreed to take action on so-called ‘party flats’.
    
Scottish Labour's Sarah Boyack MSP has pursued this issue for the past three years following concerns about antisocial behaviour (ASB) experienced by her constituents due to irresponsible short term letting. 
   
Following Ms Boyack's campaign for action on this issue, the Minister for Housing and Communities, Alex Neil MSP has finally agreed to amend Part 7 of the Antisocial Behaviour (Scotland) Act 2004 to make it easier for local authorities to issue ASB notices to owners of party flats, and bring a case to court with the prospect of a successful verdict.  
       
Commenting on the announcement, MSP for Edinburgh Central, Sarah Boyack said: 
 
"I am absolutely delighted that at long last the Government has accepted that action is desperately needed to tackle the curse of antisocial behaviour problems caused by party flats. 
 
"For far too many years now, my constituents have had to suffer the impact of the relentless partying of these stag and hen weekends without consequences whilst landlords raked in the cash. 
 
"Good landlords have nothing to fear from this legislation but to all the irresponsible landlords out there, a message has been sent that they are not beyond the grasp of the law - if you let out your property without any regard for local residents, there are now real consequences."

31 August 2010