07/08/2022

Edinburgh Planning Control Area

The whole of the City of Edinburgh Council area is to be designated as a Short-term Let Control Area for the purposes of Section 26B of the Town and Country Planning (Scotland) Act 1997.

On 27 July 2022 Scottish Minister issued their decision granting approval for the Capital to become the first Short term Let Control Area in Scotland.

The area of designation corresponds with the administrative area of the City of Edinburgh Council.

The designation will come to effect on 5th September 2022.

Upon the designation taking effect, use of an entire dwelling that is not a principal home, as a short-term let will be a material change of use requiring planning permission, in accordance with Section 26B of the Town and Country Planning (Scotland) Act 1997 and The Town and Country Planning (Short-Term Let Control Areas) (Scotland) Regulations 2021.

Note:

The control area covers the entire City of Edinburgh Council area. Where a dwellinghouse is in a control area, a change of use to secondary letting will always require planning permission unless the exceptions set out in legislation apply.
Where the change of a dwellinghouse to a short-term let took place before the designation of the control area the existing planning rules will apply. These require planning permission for a change of use of property where that change is a material change in the use of the property.
It does not apply to home sharing or home letting.

https://www.gov.scot/news/controlling-short-term-lets/

Separate legislation introducing a mandatory licensing scheme for all short-term lets in Scotland was approved earlier this year. This will require all short-term lets to be licensed by July 2024. A licensing scheme for Edinburgh is being developed, you can give your views on our Consultation Hub until 5 September 2022.

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