VRMA Administrator
Scotland's Short-Term Lets Licensing Order officially went into effect on Oct. 8 and has been set up to enforce consistent safety standards across the country's tourism and hospitality industries. Councils are now authorized to develop licensing schemes that meet "local needs" and create short-term let control areas. Short-term let hosts operating before Oct. 1 have until next April to apply for a license, while new hosts will cannot accept bookings and welcome guests until they obtain their license. A short-term let is a "property or part of a property that is rented out for a short period of time," such as for holidays or business trips, including whole properties or rooms within a host's home. The designation can pertain to anything from self-catered accommodation, B&Bs, guest houses, chalets, stationary homes, boathouses, and more that as listed on the VisitScotland website. "Our new licensing scheme will support responsible operators and give guests the confidence that their short-term let — be it a flat in Edinburgh, a property for a business trip to the Borders, or a cottage in the Highlands — meets the same set of safety standards," announced Housing Secretary Shona Robison. "These new conditions include measures such as displaying an energy performance rating on listings, or securing valid buildings and public liability insurance."
Short Term Rentalz (10/04/22) Paul Stevens
