How to apply for a short-term let licence

Apply through your local council's website. You can also find out what type of licence you need before you apply.

Check if you need a licence and how to apply

If you cannot find information about short-term let licences on your local council's website, you should contact them for help.

New host

You must apply for and get a licence before you start offering lets.

It’s against the law to take bookings or host guests before you have a licence. 

Transitional Period for existing hosts

You can continue offering short-term lets while your application is being processed if you:

• used your accommodation as a short term let before 1 October 2022, and
• applied for a short-term let licence before 1 October 2023

Local council processing times

Transitional period for existing hosts

Councils have up to 12 months to process your application from the date it was made, or 15 months if it was suspended for 3 months to allow you to apply for planning permission.

New hosts

Councils have up to 9 months to process your application.

If a local council does not reach a decision on your application in those timescales

You will be given a licence for up to one year.

This is unless the courts grant the local council an extension of the processing times.

How long a licence lasts

Local councils decide how long your licence will last for.

Your first licence can last for up to 3 years from the date it was issued.

Temporary Licences

Councils may also offer the option of applying for a temporary licence, which can last for up to 6 weeks per year. Temporary licences may be longer if you get one while the council is deciding your full licence application. You must still meet all the mandatory conditions to be granted a temporary licence.

Temporary Exemptions

Councils may offer the option of applying for a temporary exemption instead of a licence. You can apply for up to 3 temporary exemptions per year. The total time of these exemptions must not be more than 6 weeks. The council may decide to shorten the list of mandatory conditions you must meet.

Licence Transfers

You can apply to transfer your licence to another person. For example, if you sell your accommodation and the new owner plans to continue to offer short-term lets.

Provisional licences

If you’re building new accommodation that you plan to use as a short-term let you can apply for a provisional licence. The council will do checks to make sure you’re suitable to be a host. This includes giving your neighbours the chance to comment on your application.

If you get a provisional licence, it shows banks and other lenders that you’re likely to get a full licence when your building is finished.

You must still meet the mandatory conditions and any additional conditions set by the council to apply to change a provisional licence to a full licence. You cannot take bookings while you have a provisional licence.