Short term lets to be licensed in Midlothian

All short term lets like Airbnbs in Midlothian will need a licence, due to new Scottish Government legislation that requires local authorities to regulate short-term lets by introducing a licensing scheme.
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At the full Council meeting on Tuesday, councillors agreed to adopt a new short term lets policy.

The policy gives a definition of a short-term let and timescales for when applications must be submitted in Midlothian.

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The council has agreed to issue licences for secondary lets, when someone lets out separate premises which is not their only or main home and also for home letting or home sharing.

At the full Council meeting on Tuesday, councillors agreed to adopt a new short term lets policy, at the Midlothian Council Debating chamber at Midlothian House, Buccleuch St in Dalkeith .At the full Council meeting on Tuesday, councillors agreed to adopt a new short term lets policy, at the Midlothian Council Debating chamber at Midlothian House, Buccleuch St in Dalkeith .
At the full Council meeting on Tuesday, councillors agreed to adopt a new short term lets policy, at the Midlothian Council Debating chamber at Midlothian House, Buccleuch St in Dalkeith .

From October 1, anyone new who wants to offer a short-term let cannot do so until they have a licence.

Anyone already offering short-term lets can continue to do so but must apply for a licence by April 1, 2023.

The final deadline date for all hosts and properties to be licenced is the 1 July 2024.

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The licensing scheme is to help make sure the economic and tourism benefits from short-term lets are balanced with the needs and concerns of local communities.

The public was consulted before the licensing scheme was introduced in Midlothian and the information given helped inform the new policy. Interested parties such as Police Scotland and the Scottish Association of Self-Caterers were also asked for their views. In total 29 people responded, with 55 per cent of those people who are offering short term lets.

The form to apply for a licence is on the council’s website: www.midlothian.gov.uk/info/200269/licences_and_permits/742/short-term_let_licence.