Council Licensing Guide · Scotland

How Much Does a Short-Term Let Licence Cost in East Ayrshire Council?

Application fees in East Ayrshire Council run £125–£400, plus the safety certificates every Scottish short-term let needs. Confirm current fees on the official council page.

Licence valid 3 years Mandatory since Oct 2023

Licence fees

East Ayrshire Council Fees

Fee band Application Renewal
Secondary let - up to 4 guests (new) £250 £200
Secondary let - 5+ guests (new) £400 £350
Home sharing / home letting / both - up to 4 guests (new) £125 £75
Home sharing / home letting / both - 5+ guests (new) £250 £200

East Ayrshire bands fees by let type and maximum occupancy (up to 4 guests vs 5+ guests). Secondary letting (property not the operator's main/only home) is charged at roughly double the rate of home sharing/home letting (owner present or absent from their main home). Additional standard fees apply outside the main bands: provisional licence grant £100 (balance due on confirmation), licence transfer £50, variation £75, replacement/duplicate £50. Fee schedule confirmed live on the council's own licence application fees index and short-term lets licence page.

No separate planning permission needed

East Ayrshire Council has NOT designated any short-term let control area (whole-council or partial). Its planning guidance states planning permission is assessed case-by-case as a possible "material change of use" under Section 26B of the Town and Country Planning (Scotland) Act 1997 - e.g. more likely needed for flats, shared/communal access, large guest numbers, converted public rooms, or hot tubs in built-up areas; less likely for a single-household let in a detached rural house. Operators can apply for a Certificate of Lawful Use for written confirmation planning permission is not required, or email submittoplanning@east-ayrshire.gov.uk for advice. Because no control area is designated, secondary letting does NOT automatically require planning permission here (unlike City of Edinburgh), but a case-by-case assessment can still result in a requirement.

Before you apply

Documents You'll Need

  • Completed short-term let licence application form
  • Scottish Fire and Rescue Service (SFRS) fire safety checklist (both submitted to licensing@east-ayrshire.gov.uk)
  • Gas safety certificate (if applicable)
  • EICR (electrical safety report, within 5 years)
  • PAT testing evidence
  • Legionella/water risk assessment
  • EPC
  • Floor plan of the let accommodation
  • Evidence of buildings and public liability insurance
  • Planning permission decision or Certificate of Lawful Use, if applicable
  • Statutory site notice displayed at the property for 21 consecutive days as part of the application process

Safety certificates

Certificates Required

Your East Ayrshire Council licence application must be backed by current safety certificates. These are jobs for a certified assessor, and getting them booked early is the most common thing that holds an application up.

ReferralFree. We'll pass your details to a local certified assessor who covers your area.

Get your licence certificates sorted

A short-term let licence in East Ayrshire Council needs a set of safety certificates. Tell us about your property and we'll connect you with a local certified assessor for a no-obligation quote.

Gas Safety Certificate (if the property has a gas supply, from a Gas Safe registered engineer, renewed annually)Electrical Installation Condition Report (EICR) dated within the last 5 yearsPAT (Portable Appliance Testing) certificate for electrical appliancesLegionella / water system risk assessmentEnergy Performance Certificate (EPC)Buildings and public liability insurance evidenceScottish Fire and Rescue Service (SFRS) fire safety checklist (East Ayrshire-specific requirement, submitted with the application)

No obligation. Your details go only to a local assessor covering East Ayrshire Council.

Local conditions

Key Rules in East Ayrshire Council

  • No designated short-term let control area in East Ayrshire (unlike City of Edinburgh) - planning permission is assessed case-by-case, not automatically required.
  • Hosts/operators may advertise a property before licensing but cannot accept bookings or receive guests until the licence is granted.
  • A statutory site notice must be displayed at the property for 21 consecutive days as part of the application process.
  • Application requires the application form plus a Scottish Fire and Rescue Service (SFRS) fire safety checklist submitted to licensing@east-ayrshire.gov.uk.
  • Four licensable categories: secondary letting, home letting (owner absent), home sharing (owner present), and combined home letting/sharing - fees differ by category and by occupancy band (up to 4 vs 5+ guests).
  • The Repairing Standard (Scotland's private-rented housing quality standard) applies to all short-term let hosts.
  • Provisional licences are available (useful where planning permission is still pending) at a flat £100, with the remaining balance due on confirmation.
  • National backstop: if the council does not determine an application within 9 months (without a court-approved extension), it must issue a temporary licence valid up to 1 year.

Apply through East Ayrshire Council

Applications are made directly to the council. This guide is a summary — always check the official page for the current fee and conditions.

Typical processing time: Not separately published by East Ayrshire; the national statutory backstop is 9 months (39 weeks), after which the council must issue a temporary licence (up to 1 year) if it hasn't decided the application and hasn't obtained a court extension.

Official council licensing page

Common questions

Frequently Asked Questions

How much does a short-term let licence cost in East Ayrshire?
It depends on let type and maximum occupancy. New secondary-let licences cost £250 (up to 4 guests) or £400 (5+ guests). New home-sharing/home-letting licences cost £125 (up to 4 guests) or £250 (5+ guests). Renewals are cheaper: £200/£350 for secondary lets and £75/£200 for home sharing/letting, by the same occupancy bands.
Do I also need planning permission for a short-term let in East Ayrshire?
East Ayrshire is not a designated short-term let control area, so there's no automatic planning requirement as in Edinburgh. However, the council still assesses each case individually for a possible material change of use - flats, shared building access, large guest numbers or features like hot tubs are more likely to trigger a planning requirement. If unsure, apply for a free Certificate of Lawful Use or email submittoplanning@east-ayrshire.gov.uk.
What documents do I need to submit with my application?
At minimum, the completed application form and a Scottish Fire and Rescue Service fire safety checklist, sent to licensing@east-ayrshire.gov.uk. You should also have ready a gas safety certificate (if gas is present), an in-date EICR, PAT testing records, a legionella/water risk assessment, an EPC, a floor plan, and proof of buildings/public liability insurance, as these are standard mandatory conditions under Scotland's national short-term lets licensing order.
How long does East Ayrshire Council take to process an application?
The council does not publish its own target on the licence page. Under the national scheme, councils have up to 9 months to determine an application; if that deadline is missed without a court-approved extension, they must issue you a temporary licence valid for up to a year while the application is still being decided.
How long does the licence last and how do I renew?
Short-term let licences in Scotland are normally granted for up to 3 years. East Ayrshire's renewal fees are lower than new-application fees (e.g. £200 vs £250 for a secondary let up to 4 guests) - apply for renewal before expiry using the same application route.
What happens if I operate without a licence?
You cannot legally take bookings or host guests until East Ayrshire has granted your licence, though you may advertise beforehand. Operating an unlicensed short-term let in Scotland is a criminal offence, and the council can also serve enforcement notices.

Short-Term Let Licences in Other Councils

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See all Scottish council STL licence guides →

Council data last reviewed 2026-07. Fees and conditions are set by East Ayrshire Council and can change — always confirm on the official council page before applying. This page is general information, not legal advice.