Revised short term let regulations laid before Holyrood

Revised regulations for the new scheme covering short term lets in Scotland have been laid before the Scottish Parliament.

The regulations, an attempt to regulate the use of Airbnb-type lets, follow a further consultation exercise after initial proposals earlier this year were withdrawn in the face of criticisms. 

All local authorities will be required to establish a short-term lets licensing scheme by October 2022. Existing hosts and operators will have until 1 April 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 1 July 2024.

Separate rules allow councils to establish short term let control areas and manage numbers of short term lets, in areas where growth in the number of properties let in this way creates its own problems.

Housing Secretary Shona Robison wrote to Holyrood's Local Government, Housing & Planning Committee in October, setting out how the Government proposed to simplify the licensing regulations (click here for report). Along with the revised regulations the Government has published a report on the further consultation, setting out comments made on a draft of the regulations and where they have been amended in response.

Ms Robison commented: "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."

She added: "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."