Council Licensing Guide · Scotland

How Much Does a Short-Term Let Licence Cost in Perth and Kinross Council?

Application fees in Perth and Kinross Council run £175–£1,600, 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

Perth and Kinross Council Fees

Fee band Application Renewal
Secondary letting, 1-2 guests (3-yr) £350 £350
Secondary letting, 3-6 guests (3-yr) £530 £530
Secondary letting, 7-10 guests (3-yr) £900 £900
Secondary letting, 11+ guests (3-yr) £1,600 £1,600
Home letting / home sharing / combined, 1-2 guests (3-yr) £175 £175
Home letting / home sharing / combined, 3-6 guests (3-yr) £265 £265
Home letting / home sharing / combined, 7-10 guests (3-yr) £450 £450
Home letting / home sharing / combined, 11+ guests (3-yr) £800 £800

Fees are banded by number of guests and by licence type. The 3-year licence fee is identical for a new application and a renewal (the schedule lists a single 'New/Renewal' figure). Secondary letting is the most expensive; home letting, home sharing, and combined home-letting-and-home-sharing are each charged at half the secondary-letting rate. Separate lower fees apply for Temporary Licences (max 6 weeks) and Temporary Exemptions. Other fees: Variation £75; Material Change of Circumstances (Person) £75; Transfer £75; Duplicate licence £20; Certified true copy of register entry £20; Material Change of Circumstances (Premises) charged at the temporary-licence band rates (£90-£800 secondary; £45-£400 home).

No separate planning permission needed

Perth and Kinross is NOT (yet) a designated short-term let control area. The Council is proposing to designate a control area covering the Highland Perthshire and the northern part of the Eastern Perthshire housing market areas (i.e. a defined zone, not the whole council, and not Perth city). Statutory public consultation ran to late 2025; at Full Council on 17 June 2026 members agreed to submit the proposed designation to Scottish Ministers, and the Council is now awaiting Ministerial approval (page last modified 02 July 2026). Until Ministers approve it, no control-area planning duty applies. IMPORTANT even now: a licence does not remove the separate need for planning permission. Perth and Kinross treats a change from a flat to a short-term let as always a material change of use requiring planning permission, and change of use of a house may require it depending on impact on amenity/neighbours; using any non-residential building, or siting a new build/pod/cabin, always needs planning permission.

Before you apply

Documents You'll Need

  • Proof of ownership, or a completed Consent of Owner / Declaration form signed by every other owner if you are not the sole owner
  • Details, home addresses and dates of birth of all persons named on the application (host, operator, any company directors/partners, day-to-day manager) plus declaration of any relevant criminal convictions (fit and proper person test)
  • Floor plan / room sizes for all rooms providing sleeping accommodation, including living rooms or rooms with sofa beds or futons
  • Location plan showing boundaries and a named public road (for unconventional dwellings such as yurts/pods without a postcode)
  • Gas Safety Certificate dated within the last 12 months (if any gas appliances are installed)
  • Electrical Installation Condition Report (EICR) dated within the last 5 years, covering the whole installation and confirming at least one RCD in the consumer unit
  • Portable Appliance Testing (PAT) report or signed PAT declaration, tested at least every 12 months, listing all guest-accessible appliances
  • Energy Performance Certificate (EPC) issued within the last 10 years (required for secondary letting / home letting of a whole dwelling; not required where only a room is let)
  • Legionella risk assessment (required for both public and private water supplies; PKC template available)
  • Fire safety risk assessment plus evidence of fire/smoke/heat/CO detection and fire-compliant furniture and furnishings
  • Valid buildings insurance for the premises
  • Public liability insurance of at least £5 million in force while the property is let
  • Evidence of operating before 1 October 2022 (existing hosts applying under the transitional arrangements)
  • Evidence of planning permission or a certificate of lawfulness where required

Safety certificates

Certificates Required

Your Perth and Kinross 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 Perth and Kinross 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 gas) - annualEICR (electrical) within 5 years, with RCD protectionPAT report / PAT declaration - within 12 monthsEPC within 10 years (whole-dwelling lets)Legionella risk assessmentFire safety risk assessmentBuildings insurancePublic liability insurance (minimum £5 million)

No obligation. Your details go only to a local assessor covering Perth and Kinross Council.

Local conditions

Key Rules in Perth and Kinross Council

  • Operating a short-term let without a licence is a criminal offence, punishable by a fine of up to £2,500
  • A licence lasts 3 years; the new and renewal fee are the same amount
  • Public liability insurance must be a minimum of £5 million - other liability types are not accepted
  • The EICR must confirm at least one RCD in the consumer unit; a pre-existing satisfactory EICR does not necessarily prove RCD protection
  • The property address must be identical across the application and every safety certificate, or the application will not be validated
  • A licence does not remove the need for planning permission; a flat-to-STL change is always treated as a material change of use requiring planning permission
  • Perth and Kinross strongly recommends NOT providing mobile gas cabinet heaters; if you do, you must notify the Council urgently and provide operation/movement safety instructions to guests (per the 30 August 2024 amendment adding conditions on CO alarms and mobile gas heaters)

Apply through Perth and Kinross 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: No fixed turnaround; the licensing authority may take up to 12 months to determine an application. Existing hosts who applied during the transitional period can keep operating while awaiting a decision. Incomplete or incorrect documentation significantly delays validation.

Official council licensing page

Common questions

Frequently Asked Questions

How much does a short-term let licence cost in Perth and Kinross?
It depends on the licence type and the maximum number of guests. For secondary letting (a second home you do not live in) the 3-year fee is £350 for 1-2 guests, £530 for 3-6, £900 for 7-10 and £1,600 for 11+. Home letting, home sharing and combined home letting/sharing are half those rates: £175, £265, £450 and £800 respectively. The renewal fee is the same as the application fee.
Do I also need planning permission for my short-term let in Perth and Kinross?
Possibly. The licence is separate from planning. Perth and Kinross treats converting a flat to a short-term let as always a material change of use needing planning permission, and change of use of a house may need it depending on impact on neighbours and local amenity. Any non-residential building, or a new build/pod/cabin, always needs permission. Apply for planning at least a month before your licence application if it is required.
Is Perth and Kinross a short-term let control area?
Not yet. The Council has proposed a control area covering Highland Perthshire and the northern part of Eastern Perthshire (not Perth city or the whole council). After consultation, councillors agreed on 17 June 2026 to submit it to Scottish Ministers and are awaiting approval. If approved, new holiday-let change-of-use in that zone would require planning permission before operating.
What documents and certificates do I need to apply?
You will need proof of ownership (or owner consent), a floor plan with room sizes, an EICR within 5 years showing an RCD, a PAT report within 12 months, a gas safety certificate within 12 months if you have gas, an EPC (for whole-dwelling lets), a legionella risk assessment, a fire safety risk assessment, buildings insurance and public liability insurance of at least £5 million. The property address must match exactly on every document.
How long does it take to get a licence?
There is no fixed turnaround and the licensing authority can take up to 12 months to determine an application. Existing hosts who applied during the transitional period can keep operating while they wait for a decision. Missing or incorrect documents (for example a certificate showing your home address rather than the let address) will delay validation considerably.
How do I renew my licence?
A licence runs for 3 years and the renewal fee is the same as the original application fee for your band. Keep your safety certificates current, since they expire on different cycles (gas and PAT annually, EICR every 5 years, EPC every 10 years, legionella assessment reviewed periodically). Apply to renew before expiry so you can continue to let while it is being processed.

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 Perth and Kinross Council and can change — always confirm on the official council page before applying. This page is general information, not legal advice.