Businesses have till October 1 to apply for short-term lets licensing scheme

BUSINESSES across Inverclyde are being reminded they have just a few weeks to apply for the Scottish Government’s Short-term Let Licensing Scheme.

The legislation was developed by the Scottish Government in response to concerns raised by residents and communities about the impact of short-term let properties on their local communities, including noise, antisocial behaviour and the impact on the supply of housing in some areas.

It is estimated there are around 100 short-term let operators in Inverclyde and the local authority is urging those who have not yet applied to the licensing scheme to do so soon before the October 1 deadline.

In a bid to encourage businesses to apply and speed up the process, and to assist the local trade, the authority has agreed to accept and register for consideration short-term let applications, pending an application for planning permission.

This is an amendment to previous rules within the Council’s Short-term Let Policy Statement where planning permission had to be in place before a short-term let application was accepted.

Businesses who have been running short-term lets from before 1 October 2022 are subject to transitional arrangements. Providing a valid short-term let application is submitted by 1 October 2023, they can continue operating while their short-term let application is being considered.

A valid short-term let application is an application which has been fully and correctly completed and accompanied by all necessary documentation, together with proof of payment.

Existing operators who started trading after 1 October 2022 do not qualify for the transitional arrangements while their application is being considered and therefore will not be permitted to trade until they receive a full licence.

New short-term letting operators can only begin trading once they receive a full licence.

To make enquiries about the Short-term Let Licensing Scheme and access an application form, go to the website listed in the Other Websites section of this page.

For more information, contact Licensing.Section@inverclyde.gov.uk