Short-term let licence fees in Scotland: all 32 councils
Every Scottish council sets its own short-term let licence fee. Pick your council to see the fee it publishes, or compare all 32 in the table. Each fee links to the council's official source.
Get an email when short-let rules change in your council
We track these rules against official sources and email you when one of them changes.
Plus one short weekly UK "what changed" email. Free. Unsubscribe any time.
Fees as published by each council and summarised on our council pages, last checked up to 29 Oct 2026. Councils usually review fees every April, so always confirm with the official source before you apply. General information only, not legal advice. Where we could not read a council's fee table, the row says Check the council.
Short-term let licence fees by council
| Council | Fees (as published) | Official source |
|---|---|---|
| Aberdeen City | Same fee for first-time applications and renewals, effective from 1 Jan 2026. Home sharing and/or home letting: £470.40 (1–2 guests), £705.60 (3–4), £940.80 (5–6), £1254.40 (7–8), £1668.80 (9–12), £3337.60 (13+). Secondary letting: £492.80 / £739.20 / £985.60 / £1310.40 / £1752.80 / £3505.60. | source |
| Aberdeenshire | Applies until 31 Mar 2027, by maximum guests. New home sharing or letting: £364 (1 to 2), £481.50 (3 to 4), £610 (5 to 9), £727.75 (10 to 15), £909.75 (16+). New secondary letting, and provisional licences for new builds or conversions: £481.50, £642, £813.50, £909.75, £1,006. Renewal home sharing or letting: £331.75, £433.50, £545.75, £652.75, £824. Renewal secondary letting: £433.50, £578, £738.50, £824, £920.25. Duplicate licence £53.50. Variation £107 and transfer £150 (the council page dates these to 31 Mar 2026). Fees are non-refundable. | source source |
| Angus | Same fee for all licence types, set by guest numbers: £349 (1 to 5 guests), £460 (6 to 20), £588 (more than 20) for a new 3-year licence or a 6-year renewal. Provisional licence 20% of the full fee (£69.80 / £92 / £117.60), confirmation 80% (£279.20 / £368 / £470.40). Temporary licence or temporary exemption £174.50, variation £75, transfer £75, duplicate £20. No refund if refused or granted for a shorter period. The April 2026 licensing fee rise did not cover short-term lets, so these still apply. | source source |
| Argyll and Bute | 3-year licence, same fee for new and renewal applications. Home sharing or home letting: £285.30 (up to 4 guests), £398.95 (5 to 8), £627.40 (9 to 12), £799.15 (13 to 20), £1,027.65 (21 and over). Secondary letting: £398.95 / £570.60 / £855.95 / £1,141.30 / £1,426.60. Guest capacity includes children under 10. Transfer £97.20, variation £97.20. | source |
| Clackmannanshire | Fees from the council's Register of Charges 2026/27, by occupancy (4 or under / 5 or above). New licence: secondary letting £514.30 / £628.70; home letting or home sharing (or both) £314.30 / £400. Renewal: secondary letting £457.20 / £571.50 (the register labels the lower band "4 or above", which looks like a typo for 4 or under); home letting or sharing £257.20 / £514.30. Variation £75. Fees are non-refundable. | source source |
| Dumfries and Galloway | 3-year licence, by maximum guests. Home sharing and home letting: £324 (up to 6), £361 (7 to 12), £413 (13+). Secondary letting: £357, £397, £454. The council says new, renewal and provisional applications currently cost the same. From 1 Apr 2026: confirming a provisional licence £79, transfer £79. Fees are non-refundable. | source |
| Dundee City | Same fee for a new licence and the 3-yearly renewal, and for every licence type (home sharing, home letting or secondary letting), by guest capacity: £310 (1 to 2 guests), £620 (3 to 4), £930 (5 to 6), £1,240 (7 to 8), £1,860 (9 to 12), £3,100 (13 or more). 50% off where a current HMO licence is in place. £155 to issue a new licence after a variation (for example a change of owner, manager, occupancy or layout); temporary licence free. Extra inspection visits may cost £80 each. 50% refund if you withdraw before the Licensing Committee or the application is refused. (From the council's licensing policy statement, dated May 2024; its April 2026 civic fees list does not cover short-term lets, so confirm with the council.) | source source |
| East Ayrshire | Short-term let licence fees, by maximum occupancy (up to 4 guests / 5 or more). New licence: secondary let £250 / £400; home sharing, home letting or both £125 / £250. Renewal: secondary let £200 / £350; home sharing or letting £75 / £200. Provisional licence £100 when you apply, with the rest of the new-licence fee due on confirmation. Transfer £50, variation £75, replacement licence £50. Fees are non-refundable. | source |
| East Dunbartonshire | One fee for a 3-year licence, the same for a new application or a renewal. Secondary letting £594 for up to 10 guests, plus £55 for every extra five guests (so £649 for 11 to 15). Home letting, or home letting and home sharing, £495 for up to 10 guests, plus £55 for every extra five. Home sharing £275 per room. Fees are not refunded if you are refused. The policy page does not say which year these fees apply from. | source |
| East Lothian | Licensing Fees 2026/27 booklet, 3-year licence, new or renewal: £1,154 (1 to 5 occupants), £1,171 (6 to 10), £1,189 (11 to 20), £1,205 (21 to 30), £1,223 (31 to 40), £1,240 (41 to 50), £1,275 (51 to 60). Provisional licence £291 up front, with the balance of the full fee due on completion. Temporary licence £291 (up to 6 weeks). Variation or transfer £97, duplicate £33. The provisional licence fee only applies where the accommodation is under construction, not refurbishment. Fees are not refunded if an application is refused or withdrawn. | source source |
| East Renfrewshire | From the council's fee table (read 24 Oct 2026; the page does not say which year it covers), by bedrooms, for a licence of up to 3 years. Secondary let: new £972 (up to 2 bedrooms), rising £53.50 per extra bedroom to £1,293 (8 or more); renewal £805 to £1,126. Home letting, or home letting and home sharing: new £661 to £982; renewal £549 to £870. Home sharing: new £377 (1 bedroom) to £483.40 (5 bedrooms); renewal £313 to £421. Provisional licence for a new build from £972, transfer £155; a material change of circumstances costs the same as a new application. The full fee is paid when you apply and is not refunded. check with council The table shows £962 (not £982) for an 8+ bedroom home letting and home sharing licence, so confirm that fee with STL@eastrenfrewshire.gov.uk. | source source |
| City of Edinburgh | 2026/27 fees (council fee schedule, valid 2026/27). Secondary letting, by maximum occupancy, 1-year new or renewal: £653 (1 to 3), £1,089 (4 to 5), £2,481 (6 to 10), £3,872 (11 to 15), £5,264 (16 to 20), £5,869 (21 and over); 3-year renewal: £1,053 / £1,489 / £2,881 / £4,272 / £5,664 / £6,869. Home letting, or home sharing and home letting: £120 per occupant (new, 1 year) or £360 per occupant (renewal, 3 years). Home sharing only: £120. Temporary licence or temporary exemption: £250 (1 to 5), £350 (6 to 10), £600 (11 and over); £120 for home sharing. Provisional licence 20% and confirmation 80% of the full fee. Fees are non-refundable. Operating without a licence can mean a fine of up to £2,500. | source source |
| Falkirk | From the council's published 2025/26 fee table (the latest short-term let table we found; check for a 2026/27 update). The same fee applies to new, renewal and temporary applications. Secondary letting: £315 (up to 4 guests) / £504 (5 or more). Home letting, home sharing, or both: £157.50 / £315. Paid as 20% at provisional grant and 80% at confirmation. Transfer £105. | source |
| Fife | Fee table "as of February 2025" in the council's short-term let policy (updated Dec 2025), by occupancy, children under 2 in a cot not counted. Full licence, first or renewal (same fee): £295 (1 to 2 guests), £354 (3 to 4), £413 (5 to 6), £472 (7 to 8), £531 (9 to 10), £590 (11 to 12), then £59 per extra 1 to 2 guests up to £826 (19 to 20). Temporary licence £246 to £777; temporary exemption £195 to £200. Variation or transfer £75; visit after a complaint or breach up to £282. Fees are non-refundable. The policy says fees are reviewed and may change, so confirm on the council's page. | source source |
| Glasgow City | Fees from April 2026, for a 3-year licence, by maximum occupancy applied for. Secondary letting: grant £310 (4 guests or fewer) or £494 (5 or more); renewal £247 / £433. Home letting, home sharing or both: grant £156 / £341; renewal £93 / £278. Variation or transfer £90; confirming a provisional licence £167. Pay by bank transfer; fees are non-refundable. | source source |
| Highland | New or full-licence renewal, by guests (not counting children under 2). Home sharing or home letting: £320 (1 to 2 guests), £390 (3 to 6), £460 (7 to 9), £530 (10 or more). Secondary letting: £400 / £470 / £540 / £610. Temporary licence 50% of the full fee; variation or change in circumstance £120; duplicate licence £20. The council may charge for an inspection after a breach of conditions or a complaint. The council's fees page was last modified 14 Aug 2025 (read 26 Oct 2026), so check for a 2026/27 update. | source |
| Inverclyde | Fees from 1 April 2026, by maximum occupancy (4 or under / 5 or more). New licence: secondary letting £508 / £621; home letting or home sharing (or both) £311 / £396. Renewal: secondary letting £451 / £564; home letting or sharing £254 / £339. Variation £85 for any type. These figures are in the council's 2026 short-term lets fee list and its 2026/27 fees and charges booklet. Its short-term lets policy web page still shows the older table (secondary £450 / £550 new, £400 / £500 renewal; variation £75), so if in doubt confirm with licensing.section@inverclyde.gov.uk before you pay. | source source source |
| Midlothian | Fees from 1 April 2026, the same for a new licence or a renewal. Secondary letting: up to 4 bedrooms / 8 guests £541; 5 to 8 bedrooms / 16 guests £609; 8 to 12 bedrooms / 16 to 24 guests £767; above that £61 per extra room or guest. Home sharing or home letting: 1 bedroom / 3 guests £247; 2 to 3 bedrooms / 9 guests £290; 4 bedrooms / 9 guests £383; above that £61 per extra room or guest. A material change or licence transfer costs £315 / £368 / £452 (secondary) or £116 / £152 / £221 (home), and a variation £89. Duplicate licence £37; a visit made necessary by the host's failure £127 an hour. | source |
| Moray | From 1 Apr 2026: licence or renewal £540 (same for new and existing operators); temporary licence £540; provisional licence £220; confirmation of a provisional licence £320; transfer £309; variation £30; copy of licence £24; inspection £220. Planning, Building Standards and Environmental Health charge separately. Fees are not refunded if an application is refused. | source source |
| Na h-Eileanan Siar (Western Isles) | 3-year licence, 2026/27 fees: a base fee plus £21 per guest. First application: home sharing £189, secondary letting, home letting, or both home sharing and letting £294. Renewal: home sharing £84, the others £189. Example: a 6-guest secondary let costs £294 + 6 × £21 = £420. Temporary exemption (up to 6 weeks) £53, transfer £53, variation £53. No refunds once an application is processed. | source source |
| North Ayrshire | Fees from 1 April 2026, by maximum occupancy (up to 4 guests / 5 or more). New licence: secondary let £300 / £480; home sharing or home letting (or both) £150 / £300. Renewal: secondary let £240 / £420; home sharing or letting £135 / £240. Provisional licence: 25% of the new fee when you apply, 75% on confirmation. Temporary licence: 50% of the new fee. Amendment £75, variation £90, transfer £110, replacement licence £60. No refund if refused, withdrawn or granted for a shorter period. | source |
| North Lanarkshire | One fee for every licence type (secondary letting, home letting, home sharing, or both): £315 for up to 4 guests, £472.50 for 5 or more guests, for a 3-year licence. This is in the council's July 2026 guidance notes and on its short-term lets page (updated 7 October 2026). check with council The council does not publish a separate renewal fee, so confirm what you will pay to renew with PrivateSector@northlan.gov.uk. | source source |
| Orkney Islands | 3-year licence, 2026/27 fees (3.8% up on 2025/26). Secondary letting: £354 (up to 4 guests), £434 (5 to 9), £583 (10 or more). Home sharing and home letting: £275 / £343 / £457. Non-linked isles get 25% off: secondary £266 / £326 / £437, home sharing and letting £206 / £257 / £343. Temporary licence (up to 6 weeks) £275 (£206 non-linked isles), transfer £138 (£103). The first £275 of each application fee is non-refundable. | source |
| Perth & Kinross | 3-year licence, new or renewal (Policy Statement, 10 Mar 2025). Secondary letting: £350 (1–2 guests), £530 (3–6), £900 (7–10), £1,600 (11+). Home letting/sharing: £175 / £265 / £450 / £800. Variation or transfer £75. | source |
| Renfrewshire | Application fees from 1 April 2026, by bedrooms let (1 / 2 / 3 / 4 or more). Home letting, home sharing or both: £291 / £407 / £407 / £407. Secondary letting: £927 / £1,043 / £1,159 / £1,274. Provisional licence: home £189 / £264 / £264 / £264, secondary £603 / £678 / £754 / £829; confirming it then costs home £213 / £254 / £254 / £254, secondary £435 / £476 / £516 / £557. Temporary exemption £117, variation £117, material change of circumstances £117, transfer £89, certified duplicate or true copy £48, inspection after a complaint £156.87 an hour. Fees are not refunded if you are refused or withdraw. check with council The council does not publish a separate renewal fee, so confirm what you will pay to renew with licensing.cs@renfrewshire.gov.uk. | source |
| Scottish Borders | New and renewal, usually a 3-year licence: £417 (1 to 3 guests), £465 (4 to 6), £537 (7 or more). Variation or change in circumstances £104, duplicate licence £50. The council may charge for inspections after a breach of conditions or a complaint. | source |
| Shetland Islands | 2026/27 fees, now set by guest numbers rather than bedrooms. Home sharing or home letting: £210 (1 to 6 guests) / £335 (7 or more). Secondary letting: £370 / £530. Admin fee £37. From the council's 2026-27 Environmental Health charges schedule (shetland.gov.uk blocked our direct check, so read via a search index of the official file on 24 Oct 2026). | source |
| South Ayrshire | New licence: secondary letting £300 (up to 4 guests) / £480 (5 or more); home sharing or home letting (or both) £150 / £300. Renewal: secondary £240 / £420; home sharing or letting £90 / £240. Temporary licence £120, variation £90, replacement licence £60. Fees are non-refundable. These are the fees in the council's August 2024 policy and on its scheme page. The council consulted on a revised policy, including an updated fee structure, until 12 June 2026, so check for new fees before you apply. (south-ayrshire.gov.uk blocked our direct check; read via a search index of the official pages on 24 Oct 2026.) | source source |
| South Lanarkshire | Fees from 1 April 2026, by maximum occupancy (1 to 2 / 3 to 6 / 7 to 10 / 11 or more guests). The same fee applies to a new application, a temporary licence, a renewal or a variation. Secondary letting: £381.43 / £572.14 / £699.29 / £953.58. Home letting, home sharing, or both: £317.86 / £476.79 / £572.14 / £794.65. Provisional licence £200 (on confirmation you pay the full fee minus the £200), transfer £200, material change £50.85, duplicate licence £31.78, inspection fee to be agreed. Fees are non-refundable. | source source |
| Stirling | As published on the council page (which says these apply 1 Apr 2025 to 31 Mar 2026 and are reviewed each year; 2026-27 figures not shown there). 3-year licence, first-time: home letting and/or sharing £113 (4 people or fewer) / £283 (5 or more); secondary letting £283 / £453. Renewal: £85 / £227 and £227 / £397. Temporary licence or exemption (up to 6 weeks): £91 / £170 and £142 / £227. | source |
| West Dunbartonshire | Grant and renewal application £929.00. Provisional £697.00, confirmation £232.00, transfer £61.00, Environmental Health inspection £60.00. Fees from 1 Apr 2026. | source source |
| West Lothian | check with council West Lothian publishes two different fee tables. The council's Schedule of Fees and Charges 2025/26 sets fees by bedrooms: secondary letting £500.86 (1 bedroom), £612.16 (2 to 3), £801.38 (4 to 6), £1,113.03 (7 or more); home sharing or letting £361.73, £467.47, £662.25, £962.77. Variation £166.95, temporary licence 50% of the full fee, temporary exemption £333.91, inspection and report £133.56. The short-term lets web page still shows the fees agreed in December 2022, set by guests: secondary letting £450 (1 to 2 guests), £550 (3 to 6), £720 (7 to 12), £1,000 (12 to 14); home sharing or letting £325, £420, £595, £865; variation £50, transfer £120. We have not found a 2026/27 schedule, so confirm the current fee with stl@westlothian.gov.uk before you pay. The council says there are no discounts for multiple properties. | source source |
Quick answers
How much does a short-term let licence cost in Scotland?
There is no single national fee. Each of the 32 Scottish councils sets its own short-term let licence fee, usually by type of let (secondary letting, home letting or home sharing) and by number of guests or bedrooms, and many charge differently for new licences and renewals. This page lists the fee each council publishes, with its official source. We have a fee summary for 32 of the 32 councils; for the rest, check the council directly.
Do I pay a different fee for secondary letting and home sharing?
In most councils, yes. Secondary letting (letting a property you do not live in) usually costs more than home letting or home sharing. Some councils, such as Angus and North Lanarkshire, charge the same fee for every type of licence. Check your council's row below.
Is a renewal cheaper than a new licence?
It depends on the council. Some charge the same for new and renewal applications, and others, such as South Ayrshire, North Ayrshire and East Ayrshire, charge less for a renewal. Check your council's row and its official source.
Related
- How to get a short-term let licence: steps and checklist
- Licence renewal checker
- Do I need a licence? Free checker
- All Scotland short-let rules
Get free rule-change alerts for your council
Pick your council. We email you when its short-let rules change (licensing, planning, levy, fees), plus one short weekly "what changed" email. Free. Unsubscribe any time.