Short term lets - draft Licensing Order and business and regulatory impact assessment: consultation report

1. Executive Summary

1.1. This is a report on the Scottish Government's Short term lets - Consultation on draft Licensing Order and Business and Regulatory Impact Assessment (BRIA)^[1] which ran from 25 June to 13 August 2021.

1.2. The Scottish Government received 1,026 consultation responses and engaged through meetings with the stakeholder working group^[2], Law Society and with residents and community groups. The consultation process is explained in more detail in chapter 2.

1.3. The next two chapters deal with the points made in consultation in respect of the two questions relating to the draft licensing legislation and Business and Regulatory Impact Assessment (BRIA), respectively.

1.4. Chapter 3 sets out the changes made to the draft Licensing Order, including those highlighted in the Cabinet Secretary for Housing and Social Justice's letter to the Local Government, Housing and Planning Committee of 7 October 2021:

• Removing overprovision powers
• Simplifying publicity and notifications
• Adding an appeal for temporary exemptions
• Reducing public liability insurance requirements
• Focused use of inspections
• Stronger guidance on fees
• Facilitating home sharing and bed and breakfast
• Removing natural names from the public register.

1.5. Chapter 4 briefly summarises out the main points made in respect of the draft BRIA. An updated BRIA has been published separately.

1.6. The Scottish Government is very grateful to all those who took the time and trouble to engage with this consultation.