ASBOS could be imposed on buy to let landlords in Edinburgh's who allow their properties to be used as ‘party flats’ under new plans to crack down on raucous stag and hen groups.
Labour MSP Sarah Boyack, representing the city’s Central district, said the Scottish Government is considering changing the law to make the problem easier for councils to deal with.
Drunken revellers have long been a nuisance for residents in the area, but although the existing law allows tenants in short-term and holiday lets to be served with an ASBO, stag and hen groups are seen as weekenders and not able to be dealt with in the same way.
Boyack has met with many local landlords, plus residents who have been infuriated by the situation.
In a recent interview she said: “Just last week I spoke to constituents who had been kept up all night by horrendous screaming from a property in their block.
“I have been made aware that in this instance both police and ambulance crews were required to attend the scene.
“I have joined with residents time and again to try and persuade the Council and the Scottish Government that if left unchecked this situation could result in serious consequences and this latest case demonstrates that.”
In a blog on her website, Boyack added she has recently attended a meeting with representatives from the council, the fire service, the police and, importantly, one landlord.
“I was encouraged to hear the landlord speak about how annoyed responsible landlords are at the behaviour of these rogue operators,” she wrote.
“The vast majority of landlords across the city follow good practice and they feel that their profession and the city in general are being tarnished by this small minority.
“Recent developments show that residents can get action taken against bad landlords but it needs determined effort and strong representation.”
Ms Boyack has also held a ‘very constructive’ meeting with communities minister Alex Neil and is optimistic about making progress.
She said: “The minister has agreed to examine options which would mean amending the Anti-Social Behaviour Act to extend the capacity of serving notices not just to tenants but to landlords and owners of short-term and holiday lets.
“The suggestion is councils could have the power to require landlords to do certain things such as a limit on numbers, noise insulation and so on, and they would have to have enforcement powers and a backstop to enable them to serve a stop notice if there was persistent non-compliance with orders.”
Neil said: “I am sympathetic to any resident who has to put up with anti-social behaviour linked to a party flat.
“I am grateful for Ms Boyack's input on ideas to tackle this issue and this government will consider legislative change where this can make a difference.”
