Short-term lets to require an operating licence

ALL short-term let properties will require a licence to ensure they are safe and the people providing them are ‘suitable’, under legislation approved by the Scottish Parliament.

Says the Scottish Government, in an announcement, here: “Local authorities will be required to establish a short-term lets licensing scheme by October 1 2022, and existing hosts and operators will have until April 1 2023 to apply for a licence.

“The legislation was developed in response to concerns raised by residents and communities about the impact of short-term let properties on their local communities, including noise, anti-social behaviour and the impact on the supply of housing in some areas.”

Among the local authorities to react is the City of Edinburgh Council, whose leader, Cllr Adam McVey, is quoted, here, as saying: “This is fantastic news for residents. After our call for this legislative change, we worked with the Scottish Government as they consulted on this issue and how the details of a licensing scheme would work.”

Edinburgh has one of the highest concentrations in Scotland of short-term let properties.

McVey is further quoted, as saying: “I’m really pleased all short term lets will now need a licence making them much easier to control not only in terms of overall impact on our housing supply but also help us deal with any anti-social behaviour and noise issues.”

All short-term let properties will require a licence by July 2024.

Licensing fees will be set by local authorities to cover their costs in establishing and administering the scheme. Average indicative fees are expected to be between £214 and £436, to cover a three-year licence.

Picture credit: Place Design Scotland