Short term lets licensing

Before you apply - documents you need

Required documentation

The following documentation must be submitted as part of your application:

1. Floor plans

For an assessment of the maximum number of guests that can be accommodated safely, applicants must submit floor plans for their property.

Every effort should be made to submit professional plans, however, if you are unable to do this, hand drawn plans will be acceptable providing that they are reasonably to scale or adequately dimensioned. Ideally these plans should include a floor plan of each floor to a scale of 1:50 and if showing elevations to a scale of 1:100.

The floor plans should include reference to:

  • Room sizes
  • Fire escape routes
  • Accommodation intended for guests with mobility impairment
  • Smoke and heat detector locations
  • Carbon Monoxide detectors (if an open flued appliance is fitted)
  • Outline footprint of short term let property in red
  • The maximum occupancy capacity of each short term let property

2. Site plan

A site plan must include boundaries, ideally to a scale of 1:500.

3. Fire Safety Checklist provided by the Scottish Fire and Rescue Service

The Fire Safety Checklist has been incorporated into the application form. Ensure you have an appropriate fire risk safety assessment in place for your property. For further information:

4. Electrical Installation Conditions (EICR) report

This does not apply to properties with no electrical fittings or items within the parts of the property which are not for guest use, or to which guests are not permitted to have access. The report must be dated within the last 5 years. Please ensure that you upload all pages of the document. Further information can be found in the Guidance on Electrical Installations and Appliances document.

5. Gas Safety inspection certificate

This does not apply to properties that have no gas installation. The inspection must have been carried out by a Gas Safe registered person. If your property has a gas supply, you must carry out annual gas safety inspections and hold a current gas safety certificate. Further information can be found on the Gas Safe Register website.

6. Building insurance

Other considerations

You must check that any lender consents to the use of a property as a Short Term Let.

You may be subject to waste management requirements depending on the size and scale of your operation. Further information can be found on our Business Waste Collection Service page.

You should check to see if you need to register as a landlord or obtain a HMO licence. Further information about HMO’s in the Highlands can found on our Apply for a licence - Houses in multiple occupation page. Registration is required for all properties let to one or more individuals as their main or only address and mandatory licensing applies to houses or flats occupied by three or more unrelated people who share bathroom or kitchen facilities as their permanent address.

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