Perthshire’s second homes fall to record low

Government stats show a second significant decrease

The number of second homes in Perthshire has fallen 9% in 12 months to the lowest level in two decades.

New national Housing statistics, published by Scottish Government, reveal that second homes in the region have reduced from 1083 to 987.

The 9% fall in 12 months follows a 13% drop the year before and the figures are now the lowest in the present recording period, which started in 2005.

Contentious

The issue of second homes has become contentious in many parts of Scotland, with opponents claiming that high levels of second properties ‘hollow’ out communities, leading to housing shortages for local people.

Those in the accommodation sector say the issue has been used as a smokescreen to cover up the poor annual rate of house building in both the private and public sector.

Perth and Kinross Council opted to address the subject by choosing to double council tax on second properties in April 2024.

That local fiscal measure, alongside increased Additional Dwelling Supplements and Land and Buildings Transaction Tax, has clearly slowed the second home market.

As yet, though, changing market patterns have not propelled Scotland closer to meeting Scottish Government’s own annual targets for building new homes.

This week, Scottish Labour leader Anas Sarwar described Scotland’s housing emergency as ‘shameful’ and ‘embarrassing’ after figures to June 2024 showed the number of new homes completed had fallen 17% in a year.

Letting rules to change

The fact second homes in Perthshire are now at record lows comes at an interesting moment, with a consultation closing today on the introduction of a Short Term Let Control Area covering Highland Perthshire and some sections of East Perthshire.

Under new rules, homes being changed to short term lets would come under the same planning rules as flats and would require planning permission.

Any new measures will not impact existing short-term lets, only new ones seeking a change of use.

As of August 2025, there were 1777 short term lets in Perth and Kinross, a rise of 38% between October 2023 and August 2025.

Perth and Kinross Council want to introduce the Control Area in order to allow ‘consideration of impacts on the availability of residential housing’.

References:
Second home statistics
Perth and Kinross Short Term Let Control Area consultation