Update:
The Council continues to work hard to evaluate and process the large number of short term let applications we have received for the Scottish Governments Short-term Let Licensing.
We are aware that a number of our businesses - that existed prior to October 2022 - have not yet had your application determined and received a licence.
We wish to reassure existing applicants that you will be able to continue operating your business as you did since the introduction of the legislation, unless we have written to you advising otherwise.
New applicants cannot operate until they have a licence.
In the meantime, we continue to process and determine applications and are developing our policies. If we ask for more information, please respond quickly.
We will continue to post updates here.
Please do not contact us for progress updates. We will contact you. For urgent enquiries or issues, please email us at short-termlets@argyll-bute.gov.uk
Short-term let licensing- general information (updated monthly)
Information as of 05 May 2025
| Category | No. |
|---|---|
| Home Letting | 127 |
| Home Sharing | 270 |
| Home Letting & Home Sharing | 28 |
| Secondary Letting | 3094 |
| Total | 3519 |
Further information on the status of applications which have been validated is available via the public register.
You can find out more about the legislation and read the Scottish Government guidance for hosts and operators at Gov.scot - Short Term Lets. Visit Scotland also provides information on its website.
Read our Short Term Lets FAQ’s
Public Register of Short-term let licences
Benefits of the licensing scheme
We developed Argyll and Bute’s licensing scheme with feedback from local businesses and communities. The aim of the scheme overall is to ensure a safe experience for visitors that will encourage them to return to the area, and to support the interests of local communities.
Who should apply for a short term lets licence?
The following types of accommodation could all be considered a short-term let:
- B&B and guesthouse
- Boat (if static and not used for transportation)
- Boathouse
- Cabin
- Castle
- Chalet
- Cottage
- Exclusive use venue where accommodation is provided (without a liquor licence: Licensing (Scotland) Act 2005)
- Farmhouse
- Holiday caravan or glamping pod (without a caravan site licence: Caravan sites and Control of Development Act 1960)
- Lighthouse
- Lodge
- Self-catering unit / holiday let
- Serviced apartment – on its own, or up to four in a building
- Shared home or rooms within a home
- Shepherd hut
- Tent, tipi or wigwam
- Treehouse
- Yurt
It is important for applicants to determine if they require a Short Term Lets licence, as there are a number of exemptions: see our exemption checklist and the Scottish Government Guidance.
From 1st October 2022, brand new short term let businesses and existing ones offering additional new accommodation MUST legally have a licence before operating, or they could face a fine of up to £2,500.
From 1st October 2023, existing short term let businesses (those operating prior to the 1 October 2022) who submitted their applications and paid their fees by 1st October 2023 can continue to operate until their application is determined.
After 1st October 2023, existing hosts can only continue to operate if they hold a short-term let licence, or hold a temporary licence, or have submitted an application for a licence which is pending determination by the Council. Otherwise, they must cease providing short-term let accommodation.
Temporary Exemptions and Temporary Licences
The Council will not consider applications for temporary exemptions or temporary licences under any circumstances. This position will be kept under review.
How to apply for a licence
You can apply for a Short Term Lets licence online using the link below.
A number of pieces of evidence must be submitted with the licence application, so we strongly advise that before beginning the application process you refer to our pre-application checklist or the Scottish Government's checklist to ensure you have gathered the appropriate information.
Evidence can be uploaded as part of the online application process or can be emailed separately to short-termlets@argyll-bute.gov.uk using the reference number that will be provided when the application form is submitted.
Customers should scan or photograph documents that they do not have in an electronic format.
You can read our useful information for supporting documents here.
Failure to submit the relevant documents will result in application delay and ultimately application being closed down if it cannot be validated.
You may also wish to refer to the Scottish Government information on how to apply for a short term licence. On completion of the application form you will be prompted to pay for your licence application.
Apply for a Short Term Lets Licence
Please do not use the Landlord Registration process for short term let related licence applications as Landlord Registration is a separate scheme.
Planning permission: You will not need to provide proof of planning permission to apply for this licence; however it is your responsibility to ensure you have any necessary planning permission in place.
Fire Safety is a mandatory aspect of the licence and the Scottish Fire Service has produced a Fire Safety Checklist that should be completed and submitted with your Application Form
After submitting your application:
Public notice of application. - This notice must be displayed on or near the short-term let property in a position where it can be easily read by the public for a period of 21 days from the date the application was lodged with the Licensing Authority.
Certificate of Compliance (.docx file) - This certificate must be completed by the applicant and returned to the Licensing Authority at the end of the 21 day display period.
The information you supply on these forms will be used for the purpose for which you have provided it, and appropriate measures are in place to protect your personal data. A full privacy notice, which provides information about your rights under current data protection legislation and details about what will happen to your personal data can be found here:
How to make an Objection or Representation against an Application
The Civic Government (Scotland) Act 1982 permits any member of the public to submit an objection or representation in relation to an application for a short-term let licence. To enable Argyll and Bute Council, as licensing authority (“the Council”) to entertain an objection or representation, it must be:
- in writing (email is sufficient),
- specify the grounds of the objection or the nature of the representation,
- specify the name and address of the person making it,
- be signed off by them or on their behalf,
- be received by the Council within 28 days from when the notice of application is displayed.
Anonymous objections or representations will not be considered. “Anonymous” includes objections or representations where the person making the objection or representation cannot be contacted using the contact information provided.
Objections or representations can be e-mailed to short-termlets@argyll-bute.gov.uk or posted to; Short Term Lets Licensing Team, Regulatory Services, Helensburgh & Lomond Civic Centre, 38 East Clyde Street, Helensburgh, Argyll and Bute G84 7PG.
The objection should be relevant to the statutory grounds that can be taken into consideration when refusing an application. These are set out in the 1982 Act.
A copy of the objection or representation will be provided to the applicant and will include your name and address. All personal data will be processed in line with the following privacy notice:
Civic Government Licensing - Privacy Notice
Transfer of a Licence
The 2024 Order introduced a provision which permits a licence holder to apply to the council to transfer their short term let licence (including a provisional short term let licence) to another individual, termed a “transferee”
A short-term let licence holder may apply to the licensing authority for the transfer of the licence to such person as is specified in the application. The application should be made by completing the form below and submitting to short-termlets@argyll-bute.gov.uk
Fee for transfer of a licence is £91.70
Application for the Transfer of a Short-Term Let Licence (PDF)
Complaints about Unlicensed Short Term Lets
This is a Police matter, unlicensed Short Term Let complaints can be directed to short-termlets@argyll-bute.gov.uk or direct to Police Scotland
Complaints about licensed Short Term Lets
From Guests: In the first instance, the Licensing Authority would expect any concerns from guests to be raised with the host/operator or letting agent/platform and where this cannot be resolved they should contact the Licensing Authority by emailing short-termlets@argyll-bute.gov.uk . The email should state the licensed Short Term Let address and the concerns around the operation of the licence.
We cannot consider complaints in relation to the quality of a guest’s stay, or specific contractual matters between the guest and the host/operator as this is outside the scope of the licensing scheme.
From Neighbours: In the first instance, the Licensing Authority would expect concerns from neighbours to be raised with the host or operator and where this cannot be resolved they should contact the Licensing Authority be emailing short-termlets@argyll-bute.gov.uk . The email should state the licensed Short Term Let address and the concerns around the operation of the licence.
3 year licence fees
Licences are normally valid for three years. The fees are set simply to recover all costs occurred by the Council in providing the licensing scheme service. The fees equate to £90 annually for a small bed and breakfast with less than 4 guests; and £179 annually for a self-catering property for 6 guests.
| Guest capacity applied for (including children under the age of 10) | Home sharing or home letting 3 year licence | Secondary letting 3 year licence |
|---|---|---|
| Up to 4 | £269.15 | £376.35 |
| 5 to 8 | £376.35 | £538.30 |
| 9 to 12 | £591.90 | £807.50 |
| 13 to 20 | £753.90 | £1,076.70 |
| 21 and over | £969.50 | £1,345.85 |
The following describes each short term lets category:
- Home Sharing - means using all or part of your own home for short-term lets whilst you are there
- Home Letting - means using all or part of your own home for short-term lets whilst you are absent
- Secondary Letting - means a short-term let involving the letting of property where you do not normally live, for example a second home
Why have the fees been set at this rate?
The fees have been calculated to cover the costs of the council to deliver this new Government legislation including administration and staff costs. Each fee paid covers a three-year period and has been benchmarked against other licensing fees for comparable businesses.
Further information
We're currently working to update our online application portal - if you want to discuss transferring a licence or applying for a provisional new build licence - please contact the Short Term Let Team at short-termlets@argyll-bute.gov.uk
If you have an enquiry about the Short Term Lets Licensing please use this online form, but we respectfully ask that you read the Scottish Government Guidance and the Visit Scotland Webpage in the first instance for the answer to your queries. Our licensing team will be working hard to process customer applications
Following a review of Argyll and Bute Councils Short-term Lets Licensing Policy Statement on Sept 2023 a number of Additional Licence Conditions contained within Appendix 4 of the Policy were removed, these were Additional Conditions relating to;
- Guest Safety – provision and use of watercraft
- Guest Safety – provision of bicycles
- Guest Safety – outdoor play equipment
Should you have received a licence prior to this review date which contains any of the above additional conditions, laid out in Schedule B to your licence, please be aware these additional conditions will no longer be enforced as part of the licence conditions.
Argyll and Bute Council Policy Statement: This revised policy, approved by Council on the 20th December 2024, details the policies and procedures relating to the licensing scheme, including mandatory and additional conditions.
