Owners of short-term let properties in the Western Isles who have not already done so are being encouraged to apply for a licence under the Scottish Government’s Short-term Lets Licensing Scheme by local MSP Alasdair Allan.

Hosts are required to apply for a licence with the local authority where their property is located ahead of Sunday 1^st October and are required to fulfil local criteria.

Those who apply before Sunday, having operated a short-term let prior to 1^st October 2022, can operate as normal until the outcome of their application is determined. However, those who started operating after 1^st October 2022 cannot begin trading until they receive their licence.

Commenting, Alasdair Allan said:

“I strongly encourage all operators of short-term lets across the Western Isles to ensure they have applied for a short-term lets licence, if they have not already done so, ahead of this week’s deadline on Sunday 1^st October.

“These businesses are a crucial part of our islands’ economy (as well as the economy of Scotland as a whole), particularly the tourism and hospitality sectors, and it is right that the Scottish Government works to ensure there are high safety standards for visitors and that local authorities are able to make decisions on numbers of short-term lets in specific areas.

“The Comhairle have been making very good progress in working through the high number of applications which have already been submitted to them. For any operators who have not yet done so, please submit your application for a short-term lets licence to the local authority before 23:59 on Saturday 30^th September.”