Shetlands Islands Short Term Let License Process

Practical information about the Shetlands Islands 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 form and documents

The Council's short term let licensing page is here

It includes links to:

• Online application

• Application form guidance

• Policy document

• Scottish Fire and Rescue Checklist/Risk Assessment

• Legionella Risk Assessment

You will be asked to create an account and complete the online application process here.

You will be asked to submit the following documents as part of the application process:

• Completed fire risk assessment

• Annual gas safety certificate (for premises with a gas supply including bottled gas)

• Portable Appliance Testing (PAT) report

• Legionella risk assessment

• Detailed floor plan (see pages 4-5 of the application form guidance for details)

• EPC

• Buildings insurance

• Public liability insurance

• Proof of consent from owner (if applicable)

• Evidence of operation as a short-term let on or before 1 October 2023 (for existing host e.g. booking confirmation email from Sykes for booking(s) that took place before 1 October 2022.).

Fees

The licence fees are 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 below:

3 or fewer letting rooms- £189

More than 3 letting rooms- £208

Additional Conditions specific to Shetlands Islands Council

The Council is not setting any additional conditions applicable to all short term lets at this time. However, it states it could impose them but only where strictly necessary and will be property specific. Hosts will be given an opportunity to remedy any issue before additional

conditions are considered. See page 8 of the policy document for more detail.