New legislation will require all local authorities in Scotland to set up licensing schemes for all short-term let properties.
Under the legislation, local authorities will have until 1 October 2022 to set up the schemes, with operators having until 1 April 2023 to apply for a licence.
Local authorities will have the freedom to implement the scheme based on local needs and concerns, and the licensing fees will cover the cost of setting up and administering the scheme.
'This legislation is a significant milestone on our path to bringing in an effective system of regulating short-term lets,' said housing secretary Shona Robison.
'Our licensing scheme will allow local authorities and communities to take action to manage issues more effectively, without unduly curtailing the many benefits of short-term lets to hosts, visitors and the economy.
'We have already introduced legislation allowing councils to establish short-term let control areas and manage numbers of short-term lets. This is the next step to delivering a licensing scheme that will ensure short-term lets are safe and that allowing them to continue to make a positive impact on Scotland’s tourism industry and local economies while meeting the needs of local communities.'
