Short term lets

The Scottish Government has introduced Short Term Lets Licensing under legislation approved by the Scottish Parliament in January 2021.

Update

The law around short-term lets changed on 1 October 2022. New hosts are required to apply for a short-term let licence before accepting bookings or receiving guests.

On 7 December 2022, the Scottish Government announced legislation would be laid at the Scottish Parliament in January 2023 to give existing hosts additional time to make an application for a licence. This will be a one-off, six-month extension for existing hosts to recognise the wider cost of living crisis that is placing pressure on existing short-term let hosts and businesses.

On 1 March 2023 the Scottish Parliament approved this six-month extension. Existing hosts must apply for a licence before 1 October 2023 (previously 1 April 2023) and can continue operating while their application is being determined.

Short-term lets: regulation information - gov.scot (www.gov.scot)

How to apply for a short-term let licence - mygov.scot

All short term let properties in Scotland will require a licence. This is to ensure they are safe and the people providing them are suitable. The Civic Government (Scotland) Act 1982 (Licensing of Short-term Lets) Order 2022 came into law on 1 March 2022.  

Licences

There will be four types of Short Term Lets Licences:

secondary letting - a short-term let involving the letting of property where you do not normally live
home letting - using all or part of your home for short term lets whilst you are absent
home sharing - using all or part of your own home for short term lets whilst you are there
home letting and home sharing - hosts principal home

What we are doing

The licensing scheme will require all licenced short-term lets to comply with mandatory conditions which will apply across Scotland. Dumfries and Galloway Council will check that the premises are compliant with all conditions.

Dumfries & Galloway Council established a Short Term Lets Licensing Scheme from 1 October 2022
On 01 March 2023 the Scottish Parliament approved the date that existing hosts and operators will have to apply for a licence changed from 1 April 2023 to 1 October 2023
All short-term let properties will require a license by 1 July 2024

Fees

Licensing authorities are required to charge fees in respect of processing and determining, the consideration of applications. The fees are calculated on a cost recovery basis and are reviewed periodically. Currently they are:

		Three Year License
Number of bedrooms	Home sharing and home letting licence	Secondary letting licence	Renewal - Home sharing and home letting licence	Renewal - Secondary letting licence
1 to 3	£275.28	£302.81	£189.45	£208.40
4 to 6	£306.05	£336.75	£210.58	£231.64
7 +	£350.84	£385.85	£252.60	£277.86