Civic Government (Scotland) Act 1982 (Licensing of Short-term Lets) (Amendment) Order 2024: impact assessments

1. Section 1 – Background

The Civic Government (Scotland) Act 1982 (Licensing of Short-term Lets) Order 2022 was passed by the Scottish Parliament on 19 January 2022 and came into force on 1 March 2022, requiring Local Authorities to establish a short-term lets licensing scheme. The licensing scheme applies to the whole of Scotland and is implemented by licensing authorities.

Short-term lets can offer people a flexible and cheaper travel option, and have contributed positively to Scotland's tourism industry and local economies across the country. The Scottish Government has put in place this licensing scheme to ensure basic safety standards are in place across all short-term lets operating in Scotland, while also providing discretionary powers to licensing authorities to address the needs and concerns of local communities. Improved visitor experience and confidence will benefit tourism and the economy.

The aims of the licensing scheme are:

• to ensure all short-term lets are safe;
• to facilitate licensing authorities in knowing and understanding what is happening in their area; and
• to assist with handling complaints and address issues faced by neighbours effectively.

Since 1 October 2022 new hosts have been required to obtain a licence before they can take bookings and receive guests. Under the transition arrangements, existing hosts may continue to operate while their licence applications are processed if they applied before 1 October 2023.