Apply for a short-term let licence

Planning permission

Before you apply for a short-term let licence, you must check whether you need planning permission.

If the accommodation is within the Loch Lomond and Trossachs National Park, you should contact the park’s planning team.

If it isn't in the Loch Lomond and Trossachs National Park but is within the Stirling Council area, you should read our planning permission guide.

Building warrant

In some cases, you might also need to get a building warrant. For example, you’ll need to do this if you want to alter a property so you can use it for short-term lets.

If you need help with this, you can contact our Building Standards team by emailing buildingstandardsadmin@stirling.gov.uk

If you start building work without a warrant, you could be fined.

To apply for a short-term let licence, you must follow these steps.

1. Complete all of our application documents.
2. Make sure you have copies of any other documents we've asked for.
3. Send all of these documents by email or post to our Private Rented Housing team.
4. When the Private Rented Housing team gives you a reference number, use this to pay for your licence.

We explain all of these steps in this guide.

When you apply, you must send all of these documents.

Short-term let application form

This is the main application form. It must include information on:

• who is applying for the licence
• the type of licence that's needed
• the premises or land that the licence will cover

To help you complete this form, our Private Rented Housing team has produced some application guidance notes.

Scottish Fire and Rescue Service safety checklist

This checklist covers key safety information, such as:

• escape routes
• whether a fire safety risk assessment has been completed

Legionella risk assessment

Legionella bacteria can cause a serious type of pneumonia. As part of the application process, you must assess the risk of legionella exposure within the premises.

Copies of other documents

You must also send copies of your:

• buildings insurance certificate
• public liability insurance certificate
• electrical installation condition report
• portable appliance testing report
• floor plan

You can find detailed information on preparing a floor plan in the short-term let licensing application guidance notes.

Short-term let application checklist

To make sure you send all of the relevant documents, you should also complete and submit this checklist.

In some cases, you might need to send other documents. This could be because:

• there are other safety certificates for the type of accommodation you want to let
• you're not the sole owner
• you need to prove that you provided short-term lets before 1 October 2022

Proof of consent

If you're not the sole owner of the property or land, you must send a proof of consent form.

Evidence that you're an 'existing host'

If you've told us that you operated a short-term let before 1 October 2022, you must send a document that proves this.

Annual gas certificate

If the accommodation has a gas supply, you must send a copy of your gas certificate.

Energy performance certificate

In many cases, you'll need to send a copy of your energy performance certificate. However, you do not need to do this if:

• you're applying for a home sharing licence
• the accommodation is 'unconventional' — for example, a glamping pod

Planning permission documents

If you had to apply for planning permission, you must send:

• details of the permission
• your planning application reference number

Building warrant

If you needed to get a building warrant, you must send a copy of this.

You must also pay a fee for your licence. The amount you pay will depend on:

• the type of licence you're applying for
• the period the licence will cover
• the maximum number of people that will stay in your accommodation

The licence fee payable with a Short-Term Let Licence application to Stirling Council is dependent on the type of licence being applied for and the maximum occupancy level being applied for the premises.

Please note that the fees apply from 1 April 2024 to 31 March 2025 and are subject to annual review as part of the Council’s Fees & Charges each financial year.

First-time application fees

All of these licences cover a 3-year period.

Renewal fees

All of these licences cover a 3-year period.

Temporary exemption fees

These licences:

• can last up to 6 weeks
• must be used in 1 continuous period

Temporary licence fees

These licences:

• can last up to 6 weeks
• must be used in 1 continuous period

When you're ready to apply, send all of your documents to our Private Rented Housing team. You can do this by email or send printed copies in the post.

Private Rented Housing team
Housing Management
Stirling Council
Allan Water House
Stirling
FK7 7SG

Email: shorttermletlicensing@stirling.gov.uk

Once you've sent your application, our Private Rented Housing team will contact you by email. They'll aim to do this within 10 working days.

If you've provided all of the information they need, they'll:

• give you a reference number
• confirm the amount you need to pay
• explain how you can make a payment

If the Private Rented Housing team cannot process your application because it's incomplete, they'll let you know at this stage.

Displaying a notice of application

Once you've paid your fee, you must:

• complete a public notice of application
• display the notice for 21 days at or near the accommodation in question

At the end of the 21 days, you must send the Private Rented Housing team either:

• a certificate of compliance, including the notice you displayed
• signed confirmation that you displayed the notice, with information on both the applicant and the property

You can find more detailed information on what you have to do in the combined notice and certificate document.

Application review

Our Private Rented Housing team will review your application and carry out a 'fit and proper person test'. This test involves checking issues like whether you:

• have any relevant criminal convictions
• have ever been disqualified from being a private landlord

If someone objects to your application

If someone objects to your application, we'll ask our Housing Service to review it.

In cases where there are significant objections, we might refer your application to Stirling Council’s Planning and Regulation Panel.

When you'll get a decision

In all cases, we'll let you know our decision as soon as possible. At the very most, this will be:

• within 12 months, if you provided short-term lets before 1 October 2022
• within 9 months, if you did not provide short-term lets before 1 October 2022

If you're unhappy with our decision

If we refuse your application, you can take steps to:

• ask for more information about our decision
• submit an appeal

We explain how you do this on our appeal against a licence decision page.

We'll process your personal data in line with our legal responsibilities. These are set out in:

• the UK General Data Protection Regulation
• the Data Protection Act 2018

To find out more about what we'll do with your data, read the short-term let licensing scheme privacy notice.