News

01 Oct 2022

As of 1st October 2022, all short-term let providers and self-catering businesses are required to obtain a short-term let license .

The new scheme requires owners who provided accommodation prior to 1st October 2022 to apply for a license by 1st April 2023, while new providers who weren’t operating prior to 1st October 2022 must apply for a license before they receive guests.

The Scottish government says that “Short term let accommodation must meet certain conditions to get a license. These are to ensure the safety of the accommodation”. These conditions include:

• • Having and displaying a valid EPC (Energy Performance Certificate)
• • Fire safety requirements including adequate heat, smoke and carbon monoxide alarms
• • Accommodation with a gas supply must have a Gas Safety Certificate dated within the last 12 months
• • A qualified person must carry out an Electrical Safety Test every 5 years
• • All moveable appliances (such as TVs and alarm clocks) must have a Portable Appliance Testing Report
• • Having a Legionella risk assessment
• • Having the correct insurances
• • Certain information is required to be displayed to guests

Individual local councils can also impose extra conditions which will be listed on their website.

The controversial scheme has come into force to improve safety standards across the previously unregulated industry, and aims to give guests confidence that their short term let meets high safety standards.

Accommodation that requires a short term let license includes:

• B&B and guesthouse
• boat (fixed and not used as transport)
• boathouse
• cabin
• castle
• chalet
• cottage
• exclusive use venue where accommodation is provided (that does not have a licence to sell alcohol)
• farmhouse
• holiday caravan or glamping pod that does not already have a caravan site licence
• lighthouse
• lodge
• self-catering or holiday let
• serviced apartment, either on its own, or up to 4 in a building that's a flat or residential unit where: hosts provide services to guests (such as housekeeping, phone desk, reception, or laundry)
• shared home or rooms within a home
• shepherd hut
• tent, tipi or wigwam
• treehouse
• yurt

There are a number of accomodation types that are excluded from having a short-term let license. these include:

• bothy – a building of no more than 2 storeys that has: no mains electricity, piped fuel supply or piped mains water supply is at least 100 metres from the nearest public road and from the nearest habitable building
• holiday caravan or glamping pod sited within?a?park with a caravan site licence (Caravan sites and Control of Development Act 1960)
• hotels, B&B or guest house with a premises licenced under Licensing (Scotland) Act 2005
• self-catering accommodation within the grounds of a licenced premises or hotel (Licensing (Scotland) Act 2005). The accommodation needs to be specifically mentioned as part of the operating plan.
  

Operators are urged to get in touch with their local Councils as soon as possible to register their application.

More information about the short-term let license can be found here