How Edinburgh short-term let licensing works
Every property on EFR holds a current City of Edinburgh STL licence. Here's what that means in plain English.
Every property listed on Edinburgh Festival Rooms holds a current City of Edinburgh Short-Term Let licence. Here's what that means in plain English.
What an STL licence is
Since October 2023, anyone letting accommodation in Edinburgh for less than 31 days needs an STL licence from the city council. The licence covers fire safety, electrical safety, gas safety, insurance, and a few other operator obligations. There's a public register, and properties without a licence are operating illegally.
What it doesn't guarantee
- It doesn't guarantee the property is nice — that's a separate judgement we make.
- It doesn't guarantee a price — that's set by the operator.
- It doesn't guarantee availability for your dates.
Why we filter by it
Two reasons:
- Compliance is non-negotiable. Booking an unlicensed property is risky for you (no insurance, no safety checks) and the operator (they're breaking the law).
- It's a baseline of care. Operators who go through the licensing process tend to take the rest of the operator role more seriously.
How we verify
Every listing's licence number is checked against the council's register before it goes live. If a licence lapses or is revoked, the listing comes down. Verified listings carry a Verified licensed badge in the directory.