Since the introduction of mandatory short-term let licences in October 2023, there have been no reports of unlicensed lets in Edinburgh.
The Evening News revealed that despite 70 complaints being made about unlicensed short-term lets, only five warning letters have been sent to landlords.
Those who operate short-term let accommodation, need a licence under Scottish Government legislation that came into force in October 2023.
The legislation was created to ensure all accommodation meets the right safety standards.
Operating without a short-term let licence is a criminal offence and unlicensed landlords could get a fine of £2,500 and be banned from applying for a licence for a year.
Those applying must pay a fee to cover the administration costs of the relevant council.
The cost of acquiring a temporary licence for a small property in Edinburgh is £250.
For home sharing and secondary letting, licences need to be renewed every three years.
Prior to the introduction of the licensing scheme, councils across Scotland were warned by police that investigating unlicensed landlords was a low priority.
In November 2023, Police Scotland Chief Constable asked for an additional £128m in order to deliver effective policing.
Chief Constable Jo Farrell attributed the need to:
“…A changing, ageing population; a cost of living crisis driving vulnerability and pressure on other services; civil unrest; new laws and increasingly complex investigations all contribute to growing community need and increasing contacts to policing from the public.”
There is concern in the tourism industry that the licensing scheme is needlessly raising costs for landlords and tourists.
If passed through Parliament, the Visitor Levy (Scotland) Bill will allow for a tourist tax to be introduced in Edinburgh.
Revenue from the tax is predicted to be between £5m and £35m per year.
“North Bridge, New Town, Edinburgh, Scotland” by Billy Wilson Photography is licensed under CC BY-NC 2.0.