Short-term let licence

By law, all short-term let properties will need a licence by 1 July 2024. This is to ensure they are safe, and that those providing them are suitable to hold a licence.

The legislation is a response to community concerns about the impact of short-term letting, such as noise, antisocial behaviour, and on the supply of housing.

All new hosts who have not let their property before 1 October 2022 must have a short-term let licence before they begin to take paying guests.

Short-term let accommodation that requires a licence

  • Secondary letting - letting of property where you do not normally live, e.g. a second home
  • Home letting - letting out all or part of your own home whilst you are absent
  • Home sharing - letting out all or part of your own home whilst you are there
  • Home letting and home sharing.

Guidance

Key dates

Important dates
Date or deadline Outcome
1 October 2022 You can apply for a licence under the scheme. If you have been letting short-term before this date, you can continue while you wait for your licence. Otherwise you must wait until your licence is approved before you start.
1 October 2023 All existing short-term let operators must have applied for a licence.
1 July 2024 All short-term lets in Scotland must be licensed.

Apply for a licence 

  1. Use the link to pay for your application first.
  2. After successful payment you will receive a receipt number and time to add to your application, and a link to the main application form.

Apply for a short-term let licence

or email shorttermlet@midlothian.gov.uk. 

Fees

Initial application or renewal - secondary letting
Maximum number 
of bedrooms/guests		 Fee  (£) Fee to consider a material change (£)
Up to 4 bedrooms / 8 guests 488 284
5–8 bedrooms / 16 guests 551 331
8–12 bedrooms / 16–24 guests 693 410
Greater than 12 bedrooms / 24 guests (per room or guest) 55 33
Initial application or renewal - home sharing/home letting
Maximum number 
of bedrooms/guests		 Fee  (£) Fee to consider a material change (£)
1 bedroom / 3 guests  221 105
2–3 bedrooms / 9 guests  263 137
4 bedrooms / 9 guests  347 200
Greater than 4 bedrooms / 9 guests (per room or guest) 55 33
Other fees
Item Fee (£)
Duplicate licence  35
True copy of any entry on public register 100
Visits to premises where visit is necessary because of failure of host or operator (price per hour) 115

Short-term let licence register

View the short-term licence register for details of properties with a licence.

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