What are the types of short-term let licence?

There are four kinds of licence:

• ‘home sharing’ means you rent out all or part of your own home while you’re living there
• ‘home letting’ means letting all or part of your own home while you’re not there, for example while you’re on holiday
• ‘secondary letting’ means letting a property where you do not normally live, for example a second home or holiday let
• ‘home letting and home sharing’ means you let out all or part of your own home both while you are living there and also at times when you’re not there

How do I know what kind of licence I need?

The Scottish Government has provided an online tool you can use to check the licence you need and how to apply.

What kind of accommodation needs to be licensed?

All short-term accommodation in Scotland needs a licence unless it’s one of the excluded types of accommodation. Click here to see a full list of the excluded types of accommodation.

What conditions do I need to meet to obtain a licence?

Under the regulations, short-term lets must meet certain conditions to get a licence. Click here to access a full list of the mandatory conditions. Local councils may add extra conditions, which they should list on their website.

How can I apply for a licence?

The Scottish Government has provided an online tool which explains how to apply for a licence.

When do I need to apply for a licence?

If you are already operating, you have until 1 April 2023 to apply for a licence. Councils will have up to 12 months to process your application.

If you are not yet operating, you must apply for a licence before starting. Councils will have up to nine months to process your application.

How much does a licence cost?

The cost of a licence is set by your local council. The Scottish Government has provided links to all local authority websites, where you can check the cost of a licence, on this page.

Is there anything else I need to be aware of?

Yes. Your local council can make some or all of their region a short-term let ‘control area.’ The Scottish Government has created a page which lists all the control areas in force. If your accommodation is in a control area, you must apply for planning permission before you receive a licence, if you are applying for a secondary licence.

Where can I find more information?

You can read the licensing legislation in full here.

You can read the Scottish Government’s guidance for hosts and operators here.

You can download your copy of the STAA’s free guide to the regulations here.