How short-term let licensing works

Short-term let licensing was introduced across Scotland in October 2022. It means that anyone who wants to offer accommodation as a short-term let must get a licence from their council, unless that accommodation is excluded by law.

There are 4 types of short-term let licence.

Home sharing licence

You need this type of licence if you let out all or part of your own home while living there.

Home letting licence

You need this type of licence if you let out all or part of your own home while you're not there. For example, you need this licence if you let out your home while you're on holiday.

Secondary letting licence

You need this type of licence if you let out a property you do not normally live in. For example, you need this licence if you let out a second home or holiday let.

Home letting and home sharing licence

You need this type of licence if you let out all or part of your own home both:

• while you're living there
• at times when you're not there

Unless it's excluded, any type of accommodation used for short-term lets needs a licence.

This includes residential and commercial accommodation, such as:

• B&Bs and guesthouses
• chalets
• cottages
• lodges
• self-catering or holiday lets
• shepherds' huts
• tents, tipis or wigwams
• treehouses
• yurts

Excluded accommodation

Under short-term let licensing laws, certain types of accommodation are 'excluded' and do not need a licence. These include:

• aparthotels
• bothies
• holiday caravans within parks covered by a caravan site licence
• hotels, B&Bs or guesthouses with premises licensed under the Licensing (Scotland) Act 2005
• self-catering accommodation in the grounds of premises licensed under the Licensing (Scotland) Act 2005, as long as the accommodation is mentioned in the operating plan

If you'll be letting out your property for a short period, you must check whether you need a licence.

The quickest way to do this is to use mygov.scot’s short-term lets checker tool. If you do need a licence, this tool will also tell you which type you should apply for.

When you need to get a licence will depend on whether you're:

• an existing host, which means you provided short-term lets before 1 October 2022
• a new host, which means you did not provide short-term lets before 1 October 2022

If you're an existing host

You must apply for a licence before 1 October 2023.

You can keep letting your accommodation while you wait for a decision about your application.

If you're a new host

If you were not a host before 1 October 2022, you cannot let your accommodation until you get a licence.

Final deadline for all hosts

All types of host must get a short-term let licence by 1 January 2025.

If you want to get a licence for your accommodation, visit our short-term let licence application page.

You can find detailed information on our short-term let licensing scheme in our policy statement.