Short Term Lets Licensing Implementation Delayed

Short Term Lets Licensing Implementation Delayed

The Cabinet Secretary for Social Justice, Housing and Local Government has written to the Local Government Housing Planning Committee today to advise it that the Scottish Government intends to lay an affirmative Scottish Statutory Instrument in January 2023 that will seek to amend The Civic Government (Scotland) Act 1982 (Licensing of Short-term Lets) Order 2022. This is in order to amend the date by which existing hosts  must apply for a short-term let licence from 1 April 2023 to 1 October 2023.

The Scottish Government said that this is a one-off six month extension which recognises the wider economic circumstances of the cost of living crisis that is placing pressure on existing short-term let hosts and businesses without significantly delaying our primary aim of ensuring consistent safety standards and addressing issues faced by residents and communities.

We are very grateful to the ASSC for their extremely hard work on this.

Louise Dickins commented

“We are delighted to hear the news of this delay. Our calendars had been closed from April so we can open those up and let guests and owners know that Edinburgh is open for self catering business again. We are especially relieved for the Edinburgh Festival, which prior to this announcement had looked very precarious. Six months is not a long time though. But it gives more time to try and create meaningful and lasting change. Edinburgh City Council’s interpretation of the legislation to date has been perverse. Dickins have no issue with safety measures in homes. Our homes comply with long term letting safety standards anyway. The intention of the legislation was that responsible operators should gain licenses, but in Edinburgh, being a responsible operator has meant nothing as their presumption to rebut both planning and license applications means that very few licenses have been granted. It is essential that self-catering continues to thrive in the city, so that guests continue to have choice about where they stay. It is also sustainable and affordable. Both of which could not be more important.”