CLAIMS that a flat’s use as an Airbnb was "very modest" have been dismissed, after a Scottish Government Reporter found that it was rented out on average every third weekend.

East Lothian Council planners refused to allow the first-floor property in the Red House in Dirleton to run as a short-term holiday let, saying its use was "incomparable" to the lifestyle of other residents.

Owner Craig Hodgson appealed to Scottish Ministers after being denied a certificate of lawfulness for the use and was told he would need to apply for a change of use. He insisted the flat was only let out for 25 per cent of the year.

However, the Reporter rejected the appeal, pointing out that the majority of lets were over weekends throughout the year.

In his decision, he said: “I note that the appellant considers that the use of the property for short-term letting is on a very modest basis.

"Approximately 80 per cent of all bookings were for three nights or less, and most of those bookings took place over weekends.

“The submissions show that the property was used as a short-term let for approximately 28 per cent of that year and for approximately 36.5 per cent of all weekends.

“With the property being available to let on a year-round basis, a high proportion of the lets being for a short period and mostly at weekends, I do not agree that the use for short-term letting is on a very modest basis.”

READ MORE: Dirleton flat owner takes short-term let appeal to Scottish Ministers

The flat owner had submitted letters of support from other residents in the block of flats, which sits behind The Castle Inn, but the Reporter said that the support of neighbours was not relevant in the case and said there was no doubt the holiday let changed the amenity of the building.

In his ruling he added: “If long-term residents occupied the flat, I am confident that they would be known to the other residents given the small number of flats within the building.

“In contrast to that, the use for short-term letting introduces a series of unknown parties into the shared communal areas. Even though guests would not have to pass internal doorways to other flats, they would still be encountered by residents within the communal areas and as they approach the building.

“As much as residents may become accustomed to encountering strangers within these areas, that does not mean that the use for short-term letting does not alter the residential amenity of this small group of flats.”