The implementation of a new required licencing system for short-term lets (or “STLs”) is now a hot topic in the Scottish private rental market. Scotland had slightly under 10,500 Airbnb listings in April 2016; by 2019, that number had increased to 32,000. There were several advantages for both guests and hosts, as well as clear financial gains for the neighbourhood economy with the growth of STLs. Nevertheless, despite these advantages, the unregulated market had its share of issues. This licence is new to everyone, AirUs will do its best to help its clients through the application process and hosting.
AirUs takes care of every aspect of the hosting process to ensure that rental listings are successful. We have created our host dashboard to view bookings, invoices, stats, and block dates for personal use. You can free up valuable time and resources to do more of what you love by facilitating more significant income opportunities and flexibility.
We make hosting simple since we handle everything. The safety and security of your property are our top priority. Our specialised maintenance staff can quickly address any concerns, while our customer service team will guarantee that your property runs effectively.
A New Licensing Regulation
The Civic Government (Scotland) Act 1982 (Licensing of Short-term Lets) Order 2022 (“Licencing Order”), which went into effect on March 1, 2022, was introduced by the Scottish Government to strike a balance between the economic and tourism benefits of STLs and the needs and concerns of local communities.
By October 1, 2022, local governments must implement the new mandatory STL licence system. Accordingly, existing hosts and operators have until 1 April 2023 to submit an application for a licence, while new hosts and operators will need to obtain a licence starting on 1 October 2022.
According to local authorities, the new licencing system will enable them to handle complaints properly, guarantee that STLs are safe, and address neighbours’ difficulties. Additionally, it will give the local licencing authorities a way to check the qualifications of individuals offering STLs to tourists.
Residential accommodation in Glasgow, Inverness, and Edinburgh is available to visitors from AirUs. All the properties of AirUs are operated on STLs, and each of the premises is licenced so that AirUs can provide SLTs. We can also help homeowners and guests to obtain STLs licences for their properties.
Planning Permission Is Required
The Town and Country Planning (Short-term Let Control Areas) (Scotland) Regulations 2021 allow local governments to designate STL control areas. The new licencing order is meant to coexist alongside current planning legislation. This designation indicates that to operate as an STL, all STLs within the STL control area must first obtain planning clearance. A “change of use” shall be considered in planning for any use as an STL within the STL control area. A property may qualify for a Certificate of Lawfulness of Existing Use as an STL if it has been utilised as an STL continuously and uninterruptedly for more than ten years. In this case, the use of the property has probably changed. If not, a planning permit application will be required.
The City of Edinburgh Council exercised this authority first. Beginning on September 5, 2022, the entire Edinburgh City region will be Scotland’s first STL control area.
To be eligible for support from the CEC, an application must be submitted along with a comprehensive supporting statement that outlines the intended use and how it will be managed to protect the amenity of the surrounding area.
AirUs is available to help you get planning permission for your property or business place. We will also help you complete the licence application step by step. In emergencies, our highly skilled team of tradesmen are only a phone call away.
Proposed License Policy Statements and Conditions
AirUs always ensured that each property they managed was safe by providing health and safety certificates that were up to date. The Scottish Parliament adopted legislation that will begin requiring new short-term rental property licences on October 1, 2022. With AirUs, you can easily apply for your STL application to obtain the licence.
The Licencing order gave local authorities discretion over how to carry it out. Councils are establishing policies to address issues, including licencing terms, temporary exemptions, temporary licences, and the establishment of costs, which will vary from council to council in preparation for the administration of the new scheme. The Licencing Order’s mandatory licence requirements must be followed by councils. To address specific local issues and difficulties, each council may additionally impose additional licence requirements.
It is likely that the application procedure will involve the following:
- The submission of an STL Application form along with the necessary licence fee and proof of identification.
- A requirement is that applicants post a notice in the public space notifying viewers that they have applied for an STL licence and requesting comments from the licencing authority for a period of 21 days. At the conclusion of the 21-day window, applicants must confirm that they have complied with this requirement.
- The Council is doing the necessary checks to determine whether the applicant is a suitable and proper individual. If necessary, a trip to the location can be included in this. Police Scotland and the Scottish Fire and Rescue Service are the statutory consultees for this licencing program.
- Applications may be approved under delegated authority without a hearing if no one on the consultee list or the public has objected or made a representation. Applications that have been the subject of legitimate objections will be decided at a hearing where both the applicant and the objectors will have a chance to speak. There is an appeals process available when an application is denied.
Bottom Line
The Licencing Authority will always urge people to seek their impartial legal counsel before deciding whether or not their accommodations need an STL licence. Unfortunately, to determine whether a location is exempt from needing a short-term let licence, the licencing authority cannot offer legal assistance.
AirUs is a property management company that specialises in managing holiday homes. AirUs can help homeowners/landlords with the licence application by gathering all necessary evidence, drawings, and safety certificates on your behalf. Hosting a short-term rental can be difficult from a distance due to issues including visitor inquiries, key exchange, cleaning, and more. From beginning to end, we handle every part of hosting and assist you in obtaining a licence so that you can provide thousands of visitors worldwide with distinctive experiences.
AirUs provides unique experiences to every client we serve, and our guests have consistently rated our services as five stars.
