Advice for sheltered living providers on short-term lets legislation

September 2023

Housing associations with guest rooms in sheltered or extra care homes for visiting family or friends are likely to be required to register under the national short-term lets licensing scheme: Civic Government (Scotland) Act 1982 (Licensing of Short-term Lets) Order 2022 (the 2022 Order). The deadline to register under the national licensing scheme is 1 October 2023.

Under the short-term lets licensing order, guest rooms that i) are not the only or principal homes of the guests, and ii) for which housing associations receive payment from guests to book, are included under the short-term lets licence order. There are some additional conditions and exemptions to the order. 

For further information, including an overview of who may be affected and how to apply to your local authority licensing scheme, please see SFHA's summary note: Sheltered living providers with guest rooms and registration requirements under short-term lets legislation. This will be updated as we receive more information. 

In addition, TC Young Solicitors produced legal advice outlining the  implications and options guidance. It has been made available to members and can be viewed here. 

Please get in touch with Eileen McMullan, Policy Lead: emcmullan@sfha.co.uk or Susie Fitton, Policy Manager: sfitton@sfha.co.uk with updates or questions.