Short Term Letting Licencing Is Under Way At Highland Council

9th March 2023

A question at Highland council today highlights the fact that many short term letting landlords have still to apply for a licence.

The question and answer from todays Highland council meeting 9 March 2023 papers is set out below

To the Leader of the Council
If there is sufficient staff to handle the Licencing and Energy Performing Certification available when this requirement of Short Term Lets resume later this year.

Short term let licensing is not on hold currently. The Scottish Government is proposing an amendment to the legislation that would extend the period that existing hosts can apply for a licence from 31 March 2023 to 30 September 2023.
Under the short term let regulations, all licence holders must ensure that any listing or advert for the short term let premises includes a valid Energy Performance Certificate (EPC) rating if an EPC is required for the premises. There is no minimum level of EPC rating set for short term let premises within the legislation.
In terms of wider staffing for handling the administration of short term let licences fourteen additional licensing posts have been approved. Successful recruitment to ten of these posts has been undertaken. As of 22 February, there have been 940 applications submitted. It is anticipated there are up to 10,000 short term let properties within The Highland Council area.
There have also been 6 additional posts created within the Environmental Health team in order to assess and check compliance with the Short Term Let licence conditions. All posts have been filled.

Short-term let accommodation requiring a licence includes rooms let in your own home, holiday cottages, guest houses, B&Bs and unconventional accommodation such as pods and yurts.

Information about registration and licencing can be found at https://www.highland.gov.uk/info/20021/short_term_lets/1021/short_term_lets_licensing