Apply for or renew a short-term let licence

If you offer any accommodation as a short-term let (STL) in Scotland you can't trade without a licence.

You can find out more about short-term let licensing including licence types and conditions.

Please read the short-term lets guidance notes for further details.

Licence duration and what to do before it expires

The licence is normally valid for 3 years, after which time you will need to apply to renew your licence. Details of how to do that are provided on this page.

It is the licence holder's responsibility to check the expiry date of their existing licence and make sure they submit a renewal application in time. As long as you submit it on or before your licence expiry date, you can continue to operate, your previous short-term let licence will remain in effect while the renewal application is being determined.

If you apply to renew your licence after the expiry date, it will be unlawful for you to continue to operate the premises as a short-term let. You won’t be able to accept guests and bookings after the expiry date. You will also lose the existing host status; you will have to become a new host and pay higher application fee.

If you decide not to renew your licence, for example, because you have sold the property or you are no longer operating it as a short-term let, please let us know as soon as possible by emailing stl@aberdeenshire.gov.uk.

Provisional licences for new builds or conversions

You can apply for a short-term let licence at the construction stage of your new build or conversion. You will get a provisional licence number which can remain in place for a maximum of 3 years.

We will issue the full licence to allow you to start trading, once the build is completed and the completion certificates (you need to apply for these as part of your build process) along with mandatory safety documents are submitted to us.

Planning permission, change of use or a certificate of lawfulness

In certain circumstances (secondary letting or unconventional premises) planning permission may be required for the conversion to an STL or the siting of such unconventional units.

In relation to home share premises, planning permission for change of use may be required, depending on the number of rooms being used and the operational period.

If you are unsure if planning permission would be required, please check if with our Planning team if you need permission, and if required, submit a planning application prior to applying for a short-term let licence.

On receipt of this application, Environmental Health team will consult with the Planning team who will take appropriate action directly with the host.  

Fees

Fees depend on the type of licence application or category, and the maximum guest capacity of the property or unit/units. 

The current fees are applicable until 31st March 2026.

If you require a duplicate or additional copy of licence, the fee for that is £53.50.

How to pay

You can pay by either:

• applying online (you will be asked to make a payment at the end of the form)
• making a telephone payment on 01467 539039
• visiting one of our service points

Unfortunately we are unable to accept payments by cheque or cash.

How to apply or renew

Firstly, please read the short-term lets guidance notes as they provide information on the requirements to display a public notice and, after 21 days, how to complete the compliance certificate. Templates for both documents are available on this page.

View the short-term let licence privacy notice (PDF 162KB).

For an application to be valid, you must submit all supporting documents and pay the correct fee. We will not process invalid applications.

Documents to submit with your application

Whether you are applying for a new licence or renewing an existing one, you will need to provide the following documents with your application:

• Current Electrical Certificates of Compliance: Electrical Installation Condition Report (EICR) – must be within 5 years of application date
• Current Portable Appliance Test (PAT) certificate - required for all appliances available to your guests, must be within 12 months of the application date
• Gas Safety Certificate – from a suitably accredited Gas Safe Registered installer, must be within 12 months of the application date
• EPC Certificate (secondary lets only)
• Evidence of your existing Buildings insurance for the property and Public Liability or Property Owners Liability to a minimum cover of £2m
• Location and site plan for rural properties with multiple units (unconventional lets only)
• SFRS fire safety checklist - view the fire safety checklist template
• Private Water Supplies - for premises with a wholesome private water supply (not mains water) evidence of satisfactory results within the last 12 months are required, sampling by the council is recommended, however, results from a third party may be accepted (where appropriate); the results must include details of the treatment/filtration installed and maintenance undertaken

Other documents you will need

In addition to the list of documents above which form part of the application, you are required to carry out a Fire Risk Assessment and Legionella Risk Assessment. Details of both are within the short-term lets guidance notes.

Please don't submit Fire Risk Assessment and Legionella Risk Assessment with your application, but make sure that they are kept on the premises within a folder containing copies of all electric, gas, insurance certificates.

Apply or renew online

You will have to sign in with myAberdeenshire to access the online forms. You will be able save your application and resume later at any stage before submitting it. To access your saved applications login to myAberdeenshire and go to your submissions.

When applying online, you will be asked to upload required documents and make a payment as part of the form.

When renewing your licence, you will also need to provide:

• Your current STL reference number
• Your current licence number
• Date of licence expiry

Apply for a short-term let licence

Renew an existing short-term let licence

Preferred method of application is online but paper forms can be provided by contacting stl@aberdeenshire.gov.uk.

If you decide to renew your licence, your renewal application will be processed the same way as your original one. Renewal applications will not be granted before the expiry date of your current licence. 

Find out more about how we process short-term let applications.

Display of public notice

You are required to display a public notice for 21 days from the date a valid application form and relevant fee is submitted. The notice must be displayed at or near the accommodation from which activities are to be operated so it can be conveniently read by the public.

Please use this public notice template.

If you are unable to display the notice because you do not have rights of access or other rights that would enable you to do so, you will be asked to provide details of the reasonable efforts made, without success, to acquire these rights.

Certificate of compliance

After 21 days, you must produce Certificate of Compliance and send it along with a copy of the public notice to stl@aberdeenshire.gov.uk.

Please use this certificate of compliance template.

Contact

If you have any queries please email stl@aberdeenshire.gov.uk. Please include the address of the premises in your email, so your query can be passed to the correct officer.