Scottish Borders Council Short Term Let License Process

Practical information about the Scottish Borders Council's Short Term Let Licence process. To be read in conjunction with the  information relevant to the process for the whole of Scotland.

Application forms and documents

The Council’s web page for the licensing scheme is here.

It includes a link to this page of useful links including the Council’s guidance document and checklist which lists documents you need to submit and matters you need to consider.

You will need to download and complete the application form which can be found here and then email or post it to the Council.

Fees

Find the Council’s fees here. The relevant fee for most of our owners is that being charged for secondary letting (ie. when you let out accommodation that isn’t your only or principal home), and so it is that fee to which we’ve referred to below. The numbers refer to maximum guest capacity:

1 to 3 £300

4 to 6 £335

7+ £385

Additional Conditions specific to the Scottish Borders Council

The Council could apply additional conditions to a licence for the licence holder to comply with, including: 1. The licence holder must take reasonable steps to manage the premises in such a way as to seek and prevent and deal effectively with any anti-social behaviour by guests to anyone else in the short-term let and in the locality of the short-term let. 2. The licence holder must take reasonable steps to:

• Ensure that no disturbance or nuisance arises within or from the premises, for example by explaining the house rules to the guests;

• Deal effectively with any disturbance or nuisance arising within or from the premises, as soon as practicable after the licence holder is made aware of it; and

• Ensure any vehicles belonging to guests are parked lawfully, for example explaining where any designated parking spaces are to be found and highlighting any local rules.

There are other additional conditions relating to:

• Privacy and security in shared areas

• Littering and waste disposal

• Key boxes on jointly-owned/public property

• Legionella in spa pools/hot tubs

• Safety in swimming pools and ponds

• Carbon monoxide in BBQ huts

• Safety when providing boats, kayaks, paddleboards etc, bikes, play equipment

• Where investigations of noise complaints have taken place e.g. carpeting flats, arrival times of guests outside 11pm – 7am

The full list of possible additional conditions are at Annex 3 (from page 22) of the Council’s Policy Statement here