The number of short-term lets in Glasgow could soon be scaled back as tighter rules around their licensing are set to be introduced.
Under new legislation brought in by the Scottish Government, Glasgow City Council must set up a licensing regime for the short-term lets (STLs) by October this year. The local authority has now published a draft of its policy ahead of putting it out for public consultation.
The new guidance could see a number of changes implemented for those already operating and looking to operate a short-term let. Local councils are now preparing to deal with tens of thousands of applications.
What comes under a short-term let?
Short-term let means the use of residential accommodation provided by a host in the course of business to a guest.
Therefore, the new rules will apply to a range of properties including single rooms, B&Bs, guest houses, and self-catering properties like Airbnb's. It also includes smaller accommodation like caravans, glamping pods, and yurts.
What will new or existing STL operators have to do?
From October, all short-term lets will have to have been granted a licence by the Licensing Authority.
The licence will be based on whether it meets a range of safety standards and will go before representatives of the police, fire services, environmental health, and planning officers for comment.
From October, new hosts can advertise their property but can't take bookings or guests until they have been granted the licence.
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Existing hosts and operators who were taking bookings before October 2022 will have until April 1, 2023, to apply for their licence. They will be allowed to operate during the period of the licence being determined.
Glasgow City Council has proposed that it will cost between £125 and £400 to apply depending on the property.
What happens if the application is rejected?
The draft policy outlines a number of reasons why an STL could be rejected. Reasons include it not being suitable for the location, the condition of the premises, it could possibly lead to 'undue public nuisance' or impact public safety
If an applicant has their STL licence refused, they can't apply for another within a year of the first refusal unless there has been a change of circumstances.
Will there be any exemptions?
Although it's not yet confirmed, temporary exemptions could be granted when national events are taking place across Glasgow to allow hosts to let out their property.
As seen during the COP26 summit, short-term lets can be vital for accommodating large numbers of visitors to the city. With a temporary licence application there would be no requirement to display a site notice, or opportunity for objections and representations to be received other than from the statutory consultees. The only bodies the Licensing Authority would consult with under the legislation are Police Scotland and Scottish Fire and Rescue Service.
However, the draft outlines that Committee may agree that no temporary exemptions are granted as it would fail in the aim to ensure safety standards in the STLs.
There is a statutory requirement for the local authority to keep the temporary exemption policy under review and publish it every three years.
Short-term Let Control Zones
As part of the Scottish Government rules, local authorities have the power to introduce control areas where short-term lets will only be allowed in someone’s primary residence, otherwise planning permission will be required.
There are currently no control zones in Glasgow.
The draft proposals will now go before the Licensing and Regulatory Committee and, if given the green light, will be put to the public.
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