Glossary of definitions
Accommodation types
Dwellinghouse
A self-contained property with its own front door, kitchen, and bathroom. Includes houses, flats, and cottages. (See Planning Circular 10/2009, Annex A, paragraphs 7–9)
Excluded accommodation (Control Area)
Does not require a short-term let licence in a control area. This includes:
- Care homes or supported accommodation
- Hospitals or nursing homes
- Residential schools, colleges, or training centres
- Secure accommodation (for instance prisons, young offenders institutions ormilitary barracks)
- Refuges
- Student accommodation
- Premises with a valid alcohol premises licence that includes accommodation in the operating plan
Excluded accommodation (Licensing)
Does not require a short-term let licence under licensing rules. This includes:
- Aparthotels
- Hotels with planning permission for hotel use
- Hostels
- Care homes or supported accommodation
- Hospitals or nursing homes
- Secure accommodation
- Student accommodation
- Accommodation already licensed for overnight hire
- Accommodation provided by the guest (e.g. campervans)
- Mobile accommodation (e.g. boats)
- Bothies
- Employer-provided accommodation under a contract of employment
Tenancy types
Excluded tenancy (Control Area)
Tenancies not classed as short-term lets in control areas. These include:
- 1991 Act tenancies
- Modern limited duration tenancies
- Short limited duration tenancies
- Student residential tenancies
- Croft tenancies
- Small landholder tenancies
Excluded tenancy (Licensing)
Tenancies that are not classed as short-term lets under licensing rules. These include:
- Protected, assured, and short assured tenancies
- Croft and small landholder tenancies
- Scottish secure and short Scottish secure tenancies
- Agricultural tenancies (e.g. grazing leases)
- Private residential tenancies
- Student residential tenancies
Roles and terms
Host or operator
A person or company providing short-term let accommodation.
Immediate family member
Includes parents, grandparents, children, grandchildren, and siblings - by blood, marriage, civil partnership, or cohabitation. Stepchildren and half-siblings are also included.
(See Short Term Let Control Areas (Scotland) Regulations 2021.)
Secondary letting
Letting a property that the host or operator does not normally live in, such as a second home.