In the aftermath of the devastating fire on Scott Street in Perth, Scotland’s self-catering sector has rallied to provide emergency support for displaced residents.
The Association of Scotland’s Self-Caterers (ASSC) has commended the swift and generous response from local short-term let operators, many of whom offered their properties as temporary accommodation without hesitation.
Following an urgent appeal from Perth and Kinross Council for available short-term accommodation, numerous self-catering hosts responded, highlighting the sector’s crucial — and often under-recognised — role in community resilience during times of crisis.
Independent analysis by BiGGAR Economics has shown that self-catering accommodation contributes £52 million each year to the Perth and Kinross economy, sustaining 1,757 local jobs.
Fiona Campbell MBE, Chief Executive of the ASSC, said:
“The ASSC extends its heartfelt condolences to everyone affected by the recent tragedy on Scott Street and pays tribute to the bravery of our emergency services.
I’m incredibly proud of how our self-catering community responded. In times of emergency — whether it’s fire, flooding or infrastructure failure — our sector proves its value not only to tourism, but to the fabric of our communities.
Operators didn’t wait to be asked; they acted. In moments of crisis, people need a safe, nearby place to stay — somewhere close to schools, support services and familiar surroundings. That’s exactly what our members have provided.”
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