- Licence type
- Short Term Let
- Who should apply?
- Anyone who uses accommodation to offer short-term lets.
- Definitions and more
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The Scottish Government passed the Civic Government (Scotland) Act 1982 (Licensing of Short term Lets) Order 2022 on 19 January 2022. This introduced a licensing scheme for short term lets which started on 1 October 2022.
There are four types of licences for short term let accommodation:
Secondary letting - letting a property where you do not normally live. For example a second home that is let to guests.
Home letting - using all or part of your own home for short term lets, while you are absent.
Home sharing - using all or part of your own home for short term lets, while you are there.
Home letting and home sharing - using all or part of your own home for short term lets, while you are living there and for periods when you are absent. - Cost
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You should upload your completed application form, all required supporting documentation and . We do not accept paper application forms, postal application forms, cash or cheque payments.
All licence application fees are non-refundable. Find out more information on our . If you wish to request a refund due to exceptional circumstances contactThe Licensing Manager
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249 High Street
Edinburgh
EH1 1YJ - What you need to supply
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Please make sure you read the notes for guidance before completing the form.
You must submit the below items with your license application. Please have them ready when you complete the online application form.
- 1 x A4 size copy of the floor plans of the property - required for new, temporary and any subsequent renewal application.
- Annual gas certificate - for properties with a gas supply.
- Annual Portable Appliance Test (PAT) certificate.
- A fully completed fire safety checklist - required for all new, temporary and any subsequent renewal application.
- Current Electrical Installation Condition Report (EICR).
- Planning permission information for secondary letting only. Find out .
- The correct application fee.
- Additional information
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On 1 March 2023, the Scottish Parliament approved legislation, proposed by the Scottish Government, which extends the application deadline for existing hosts to 1 October 2023.
This means that existing hosts and operators had until 1 October 2023 to apply for a licence to continue operating while their application was being considered. An existing host or operator was someone who had already been using their property to provide short term lets prior to 1 October 2022. Existing hosts and operators needed to be able to prove that they used the property for short term lets during this time.
New hosts and operators
If you were not using your premises to provide short term lets before 1 October 2022, you cannot take bookings or receive guests until you have a licence.
All hosts and operators need to have a licence by 1 January 2025.
Find more information on . We have a list of questions we have been frequently asked about the new licensing scheme which you may find useful.Information is also available from the Scottish Government website:
- Application pack
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- Download our short term let guidance notes
- Download an application form
- Download an application to transfer a current licence
- Download an application for a provisional licence
- Download an application for confirmation of a provisional licence
- Download our current short term let policy
- Download our privacy notice
- Standard conditions
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The Civic Government (Scotland) Act 1982 (Licensing of Short term Lets) Order 2022 provides mandatory conditions to be attached to all short term let licences. The order also allows local authorities to attach additional conditions to short term lets.