The package approved in Moray includes an application form, guidance, fee proposals, procedure, templates and statement of licensing policy. The application package will be available on the licensing pages of the council’s website ready to take effect on 1 October 2022.

Existing operators have from 1 October 2022 to 1 April 2023 to apply for any necessary short-term let licences. Moray Council then has until 30 April 2024 to determine those licence applications. After 1 July 2024, it will be a criminal offence for anyone to operate a short-term lease without having the appropriate licence in place.

Any new operators, or existing operators who wish to let out new property, will have to apply for a licence after 1 October 2022 – and must obtain the licence before they can start to take bookings.

Chair of Moray Council’s Licensing Committee, Councillor Paul McBain, said: “Regulating short-term lets is a challenge but this application package will help property owners and managers navigate the new policy.

“The Scottish Government asked councils, as licensing authorities, to keep fees to a manageable level for businesses. Therefore, the fees in Moray represent the cost of processing the licence.

“The ultimate goal is to develop a fully-online licence process that will be automated as far as possible. I’d urge applicants to wait for the online aspect to be released before submitting their applications, but to be prepared for the changes coming.

“I also commend the licensing team for pulling this policy together in a relatively small amount of time.”