Short-term let licensing in Scotland

Following on from the introduction of short-term rental regulations in Edinburgh, the rest of Scotland will now follow suit. The newly introduced short-term let licensing scheme will make it mandatory for all short-term let providers across Scotland to posses a licence. Short-term let hosts who operated before the 1st of October will have until the 1st of April 2023 to apply for a licence, while new hosts will not be able to accept bookings and welcome guests until they obtain a licence. All existing short-term lets in Scotland must be licensed by the 1st of July 2024.

Applications for short-term let licences should be made to the local authority in which the rental property is located. Hosts can use this tool to find out if it is necessary to apply for a licence. The licencing law will apply to all types of properties, from apartments to B&B’s as well as holiday accommodation types such as yurts. Hosts who own multiple properties will need a licence for each. However, if these separate properties have the same address, you will only need to apply for one.

Hosts could be liable for fines of up to £2500 if they do not possess a licence or meet the mandatory conditions. The Scottish Government is committed to working with vacation rental platforms such as Airbnb and Vrbo to support hosts while the scheme is being put in to place; and there will be a further review in 2023. This will allow the Scottish Government to undertake further research into the impact on the tourism industry. Further consultations and potential updates to the scheme are possible, so make sure to keep up to date.

Short-term rental owners can refer to our blog for more industry news and insights, and Travelnest hosts can reach out to our team for further information and assistance.