The date by which anyone running a short-term let (STL) in Scotland needs to have their paperwork in order is 1 October 2023. If they don’t, they must stop marketing and taking bookings for the property and stop welcoming guests. However, there are strong indications that further legal proceedings are in the offing against planning elements of Edinburgh Council’s scheme.
This is a longer version (with new reactions afterwards) of the article which appeared in Issue 327.
Readers are doubtless familiar with the recent background of short-term lets (STLs) in Edinburgh – namely, that following the passing by the Scottish Government of a law enabling local authorities to designate 'Short-term let planning control areas', City of Edinburgh Council (CEC) immediately announced the establishment of such a control area, covering the whole local-authority area, which came into force on 5 September 2022.
Planning permission is sought to convert two Category A-listed properties on London Street into short-term holiday-let accommodation.
Both properties are at No. 39, and both have fallen into disrepair after being unoccupied for between 10 and 30 years. Both properties have their own front doors.
On the level