Guides and free tools for UK short-let hosts

England

Guides

• England short-term let rules: what changes in 2027
  England short-term let changes for 2027: national register expected March 2027, the C5 use class and Article 4 directions, second homes premiums and the Overnight Visitor Levy. Official sources.
• Holiday let planning permission in England
  When does an English holiday let need planning permission? Material change of use, London 90 nights, annexes, C5 status, certificates and enforcement.
• England second homes council tax premium: holiday lets
  The second homes council tax premium in England from April 2025: who pays up to double council tax, when a holiday let pays business rates instead, the Class E to L exceptions, and council pages. Official sources.
• Fire safety for holiday lets in England: what you need and a checklist
  What fire safety law requires for holiday lets and short-term lets in England: fire risk assessment, smoke and heat alarms, doors, escape routes and guest information, with a free tick-off checklist. Official Home Office sources.

Free tools

• London 90-night rule counter for short-term lets
  Free London 90-night counter: add your bookings from every platform and see how many short-let nights you have left this calendar year without planning permission. Official sources.

All England rules

Wales

Guides

• Wales second homes council tax premium: holiday lets
  Holiday let council tax in Wales: the second homes premium (up to 300%), when a holiday let pays it after missing the 252/182-night business rates test, the Class 1 to 7 exceptions, and council rates. Official sources.
• Fire safety for holiday lets in Wales: what you need and a checklist
  Fire regulations for holiday lets in Wales: fire risk assessment, interlinked smoke and heat alarms, CO alarms, doors, escape routes and a free checklist.
• Wales visitor accommodation licensing: what the 2026 Act means for hosts
  Wales's 2026 Act brings licences for self-catering lets (legal default start March 2030). Who needs one, standards, fees, offences and WRA registration.

Free tools

• Do I need to register my holiday let in Wales?
  Free 4-question checker: do you need to register your Wales holiday let or short-term let with the Welsh Revenue Authority by 31 March 2027? Plain English, official sources.

All Wales rules

Scotland

Guides

• How to get a short-term let licence in Scotland: steps and checklist
  Plain-English steps to get a Scottish short-term let licence, plus a free tick-off checklist of every certificate, safety item and notice you need. Official sources.
• Fire safety for short-term lets in Scotland: what you need and a checklist
  Fire safety for Scottish short-term lets and holiday cottages: the fire risk assessment, smoke, heat and CO alarms, doors, lighting, fire blanket and the licence mandatory conditions, with a free tick-off checklist. From official Scottish guidance.

Free tools

• Short-term let licence fees in Scotland: all 32 councils
  Compare short-term let licence fees across all 32 Scottish councils: secondary letting, home letting and home sharing, new and renewal, with each council's official source. Checked 29 Oct 2026.
• Is your Scottish short-term let licence renewal due?
  Free checker for Scottish short-term let hosts: estimate when your licence expires and when to start your renewal, with your council's renewal rules and official sources.
• Does my Scottish holiday let pay business rates or council tax?
  Free checker: does your Scottish holiday let qualify for non-domestic (business) rates? 140 nights available, 70 nights let, evidence by 26 May, or council tax and the second-home premium. Official sources.

All Scotland rules

Northern Ireland

• Northern Ireland short-term lets: how to get a Tourism NI certificate
  Holiday lets in NI: planning permission (change of use) and how to get the Tourism NI certificate every holiday let, Airbnb and self-catering property in Northern Ireland needs: fees, the inspection, what inspectors check, and a free tick-off checklist. Official sources.

All Northern Ireland rules

UK-wide

Guides

• Holiday let tax after the FHL abolition
  FHL repeal explained: how holiday lets and static caravans are taxed since the furnished holiday lettings rules ended in April 2025: mortgage interest, capital allowances, losses, CGT and pensions.
• Holiday let insurance: what the law requires in each UK nation
  Is holiday let insurance a legal requirement? Scotland licence insurance conditions, England, Wales and NI rules, employers' liability, lenders and AirCover.

Free tools

• Does my let need a licence or registration?
  Free checker: does your UK short-term or holiday let need a licence or registration? Pick your nation, council and type of let for a plain-English answer with the official source.
• UK visitor levy and tourist tax map 2026-27
  Scotland visitor levy rates and start dates: Edinburgh 5% now; Glasgow, Aberdeen, Stirling and West Dunbartonshire confirmed. Plus every UK tourist tax.
• Visitor levy calculator for short-let hosts
  Free visitor levy calculator for Edinburgh, Glasgow, Aberdeen, Stirling, West Dunbartonshire and Cardiff: levy due, advance-booking exemptions, a guest message and official sources.
• Holiday let occupancy threshold tracker
  Free tracker for the holiday let business rates tests: Wales 252/182 nights, England and Scotland 140/70. See how many more let nights you need, allowances, and email a summary to your accountant.
• Buying a holiday let? Due-diligence checker
  Free due-diligence checker for buying a holiday let or short-term let in the UK: licence, planning, visitor levy, business rates and registration by council or postcode, plus lender, insurance and lease checks. Official sources.
• UK short-let deadlines: next 90 days
  UK short-let deadlines: Self Assessment, Edinburgh and Glasgow levy dates, consultations closing, then Aberdeen, Cardiff and Stirling levies, England register and premiums to July 2027. Official sources.