The Short-term Licencing scheme was implemented in October 2022, with a deadline for existing hosts and operators to apply for a licence by 1^st October 2023 to allow them to continue to operate until the licence is determined. Fife Council received 1,836 Short-term Let (STL) application by this deadline, with around 1,000 applications in the month of September 2023. The Council have until the end of September 2024 to determine these applications.

The team are working through the applications still to be determined within the timescale. If you are contacted for further information, please provide the information as soon as possible.  There is no need to contact us for progress as we will contact applicants directly if required.

Further information of the Fife Council STL Licensing scheme can be found at:

Short-term Lets Licence | Fife Council

Legislation Amendments

The Civic Government (Scotland) Act 1982 (Licensing of Short-term Lets) Amendment Order 2024 was laid on 16 May 2024 and passed by the Scottish Parliament on 26 June 2024. The Amendment Order 2024 will take effect from 30^th August 2024.

The legislation amendments include:

• the introduction of powers enabling the transfer of short-term let licences (which will aid the selling and purchase of short-term let accommodation)
• the option for prospective hosts constructing buildings for short-term let use to apply for a provisional licence that can be confirmed once the premises are complete (which will support the financial lending approval process)
• exclusions for guest rooms in specific types of accommodation (which will cover hospitals, nursing homes and sheltered housing); and
• exclusions for short-term emergency accommodation provided by foster carers for foster child/ren (long-term term care where the accommodation is the foster child’s main residence is already excluded).
• changes to allow up to three periods of temporary exemptions in each calendar year which must not exceed a combined total of six weeks overall
• A new mandatory condition has been introduced:

Carbon Monoxide Information

The following information must be provided to guests:

1)  instructions as to what guests should do in the event that the carbon monoxide alarms sounds and, where relevant,

2)  if there is a mobile gas cabinet heater in the premises, safety instructions as to the operation and movement of the mobile heater.

Scottish Government Updated Guidance (August 2024)

The Scottish Government have provided the following guidance for hosts and operators:

Short Term Lets in Scotland Licensing Scheme - Part 1 Guidance for Hosts and Operators (www.gov.scot)

We are in the process of updating our website and related publications to account for the new legislation changes. We would appreciate if hosts and operators could refer to the above guidance for further information in the meantime.

Submit a Questions to Fife Council on the Legislation:

Fife Council would like to consult with hosts and operators on the Secondary Legislation implemented by Scottish Government on 30th August 2024. We would appreciate if you could take a few minutes to complete the survey and help us develop publications for Short-term Let hosts and operators in Fife. 

We will collate the questions and answers and share a collective response through the Welcome to Fife Business Newsletter and on the Fife Council Short-term Let website. If you would like a direct response for your question (s) you can tell us your contact details (optional).