Short Lets licensing schemes to start next year in Scotland

Short Lets licensing schemes to start next year in Scotland


Todays other news
Landlords have faced a year of change - with lessons...
How the legislation differs from leaseholds, and its challenges and...


Councils north of the border will be given powers to ensure short-term lets are safe and meet the needs of local communities under legislation being put before the Scottish Parliament.

Under the legislation, all local authorities will be required to establish a short-term lets licensing scheme by October 2022. 

Existing hosts and operators will have until April 1 2023 to apply for a licence for each property that they operate as a short-term let. 

All short-term lets in Scotland will have to be licensed by  July 1 2024.

The legislation was developed after residents across Scotland raised concerns about the impact of short-term lets on their communities including noise, antisocial behaviour and the impact on the supply on housing in some areas. 

The Scottish Government says the council-led approach will ensure the needs and concerns of communities are balanced with wider economic and tourism interests.

 

 

 

Housing Secretary Shona Robison comments: “We have already introduced legislation allowing councils to establish short-term let control areas and manage numbers of short-term lets. 

“This is the next significant step to delivering a licensing scheme that will ensure short-term lets are safe and the people providing them are suitable. We want short term lets to continue making a positive impact on Scotland’s tourism industry and local economies while meeting the needs of local communities.

“Short-term lets can offer people a flexible travel option. However, we know that in certain areas, particularly tourist hotspots, high numbers of lets can cause problems for neighbours and make it harder for people to find homes to live in. The licensing scheme and control area legislation give councils the powers to take action where they need to.

“We appreciate the input from tourism bodies, local government, community organisations and others in reaching this point, and look forward to delivering a short-term lets licensing scheme that works for Scotland.”

Share this article ...

Join the conversation: Login and have your say

Want to comment on this story? Our focus is on providing a platform for you to share your insights and views and we welcome contributions. All comments are screened using specialist software and may be reviewed by our editorial team before publication. Landlord Today reserves the right to edit, withhold or delete comments that violate our guidelines, including those that harass, degrade, or intimidate others. Users who post such content may be banned from commenting.
By commenting, you agree to our Commenting Terms of Use.
Recommended for you
Related Articles
A formal consultation on Selective Licensing begins in the New...
Cornwall remains the county with the highest number of second...
New reporting rules coming into effect next month...
The provider was the subject of a special investigation because...
Council will pay part of tenants’ rent to private landlords...
A mortgage chief is warning that thousands of buy to...
The government says it will shortly start a formal consultation...
Recommended for you
Latest Features
Landlords have faced a year of change - with lessons...
How the legislation differs from leaseholds, and its challenges and...
Sponsored Content

Send to a friend

In order to send this article to a friend you must first login. Click on the button below to login or sign up.

No one likes pop-ups ...
But while you're here