Wednesday March 4th 2026
Flat at Balfour Court, Lethington Avenue (image: Glasgow City Council)
Written by Local Democracy Reporter, Sarah Hilley
An overseas worker has won a planning battle to offer a flat as a short term let despite it being against policy as refusal would “jeopardise” their housing.
Councillors approved the plan today for the south side home following an appeal against a previous refusal by Glasgow City Council.
The owner of the one bedroom Shawlands home said the flat is let to cover costs and it would end up sitting empty while they work abroad.
Speaking at yesterday’s planning local review committee, Councillor Mhairi Hunter said: “For me this is about whether there is a compelling reason here for us to go against policy as we do have a policy of not granting permission for short stay accommodation in residential flats.”
Committee chair Ken Andrew said considering housing supply problems in the city the bid offered the “best” reason for a short term let as the home would “would lie empty while the owner is working abroad” otherwise.
The appeal from applicant Amanda Federici who works as a diplomat said: “When I am abroad, I let the flat on a short-term basis to cover essential maintenance and ownership costs.”
It added: “The refusal misapplies policy, creates housing loss by forcing my property to be left empty for most of the year and jeopardises my own housing arrangement.”
The appeal continued: “The flat has been rented on a short-term basis, without complaints since 2019 and under temporary consent since 2023.”
Councillors sitting on the planning local review committee approved the use of the Lethington Avenue flat as a short term let yesterday.
Officials had previously turned it down for a number of reasons including that it was not in keeping with certain policies.
They pointed out the proposal would result “in an unacceptable loss of amenity to neighbouring residents” and would lead to an “unacceptable introduction of commercial use and intensification of the activity in an existing flatted residential building.”
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