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Short-term lets

Short-term let licensing

As a result of the Civic Government Scotland Act 1982 (Licensing of Short Term Lets) Order 2022 being passed by the Scottish Parliament, local authorities in Scotland have introduced a licensing scheme for properties operating as short-term lets. The licensing scheme started on 1 October 2022.

If you provide accommodation to guests on a temporary basis, the accommodation is not their main or permanent home and they don't have a private tenancy agreement with you, you must have a short-term let (STL) licence.

Changes to STL licences

On 30th August 2024, there were various changes to STL licensing legislation which affect existing and new licence applications. 

Here is an overview of these changes: 

  • Licence transfer - this replaces temporary consent, and allows licence holders to transfer their licence to someone else
  • Provisional licence - new hosts who are building accommodation to use as a short-term let can apply for this at the construction stage
  • Updated conditions - two new pieces of information need to be displayed at short-term let premises to comply with the mandatory conditions:
    • instructions for what guests should do if a carbon monoxide alarm sounds
    • if there is a mobile gas cabinet heater in the premises, safety instructions for using and moving the heater

Types of accommodation needing a licence

Hosts must have a licence per each separately bookable self-contained accommodation unit with its own kitchen, bathroom and access door. For further details please view:

Multi-unit licences can be issued for unconventional secondary lets, for example a group of yurts or lodges if they are within the same parcel of land.

View what types of accommodation need a licence. 

Types of licence

There are 4 types of short-term let licence.

Secondary letting - the letting of property where you don't normally live, for example a second home that is let to guests. This would include a:

  • cabin within your own garden
  • self contained extension to your own home
  • converted building on your own land such as a steading, barn or garage

If the unit has its own access, is not internally connected to your own home, a secondary let licence application is required.

Home letting - using all or part of your own home for short-term lets, whilst you are absent, an example of this could be whilst you are on holiday.

Home sharing - using part of your own home for short-term lets, whilst you are in residence.

Home letting and home sharing - operating short-term lets from your own home while you are living there and for periods when you are absent.

Check what type of licence you need

Conditions

The law says short-term lets must meet certain conditions to get a licence:

You must be a fit and proper person to hold a short-term let licence. We will carry out a consultation for every licence application with Police Scotland, the Scottish Fire and Rescue Service (SFRS) and various council services.

Public register of STL licences

We are required by law to publish a register of all short-term let licence applications received by the council.

Objections

Objections to a current application must be received in writing within 28 days of a public notice being displayed by the applicant outside a property. You can email objections to stl@aberdeenshire.gov.uk stating the reason for objection. The objection must be signed.

For more details view how to make an objection (PDF 619KB).