NEW taxes on holiday homes have been proposed to protect the Gaelic language.
Increased taxes for holiday homes and Airbnb-style short term lets have been put forward by the Scottish Greens as a way of tackling the housing crisis in Gaelic communities, as well as supporting young people who wish to stay in the areas they have grown up in.
Ross Greer, the party's finance spokesperson intends to force a vote on the proposed taxes when Holyrood considers amendments to the Housing Bill this autumn.
The amendments would allow ministers to apply a “special” surcharge on those purchasing holiday homes or other additional properties in areas with high levels of Gaelic speakers, including Skye and the Outer Hebrides.
Commenting, Greer said: “Gaelic is an essential part of Scottish culture and national identity, but it is on the verge of extinction as a living language.
“We need to take bold action immediately, or the decline will be impossible to reverse. The Languages Act is a good starting point, but we know that one of the biggest threats to the language is the housing crisis in areas like Skye.”
His proposals follow the passing of the Scottish Languages Bill, which allows for communities where Gaelic is widely spoken to be designated as “areas of linguistic significance”.
Additional charges on holiday home purchases would apply in areas with this designation, including Skye, where average house prices are around £60,000 higher than the national average.
A local councillor reportedly estimated that almost 60% of properties in the area were either holiday homes or short term lets, forcing young people off the island and putting the survival of Gaelic as a community language at risk.
A lack of affordable housing is often cited as one of the main factors in Gaelic being on the verge of extinction in historical Scottish communities.
“Young Gaelic speakers are being forced out of the last communities where it is still the spoken language because holiday homes and Airbnb-style short term lets have driven up house prices to levels they cannot hope to compete with”, Greer continued.
“As a result, they are forced to move to areas where they cannot use Gaelic in their everyday interactions. This is one of the biggest threats to Gaelic’s continued existence.
“My proposals would make it harder for wealthier people to buy up second homes and short-term lets in Gaelic-speaking communities and in turn make it easier for locals, especially first-time buyers, to secure their own home."
Greer added: “Changes to council tax already delivered by Scottish Green MSPs reduced the number of second and holiday homes across Scotland by 2500 last year, freeing up more properties for people who need a home to live in.
“We can build on this success with further targeted actions and ensure that our Gaelic-speaking communities can thrive rather than be treated purely as holiday parks for tourists and the super-rich.”
