Landlord licensing in East Lothian Council

Licensing at a glance

HMO licensing

HMO licensing applies where three or more unrelated people, forming three or more households, share a property in East Lothian. Every private landlord must also be registered on the Scottish Landlord Register, which is mandatory across Scotland.

Additional licensing

In Scotland, there is no separate additional licensing scheme for larger HMOs or other property types as found in England. Shared housing is covered by the mandatory HMO licensing regime for larger properties, and all private landlords are subject to mandatory landlord registration.

Selective licensing

Scotland does not have selective licensing for general private rented properties. Landlord registration is mandatory for all private landlords. East Lothian Council has designated a short-term let control area, meaning a short-term let licence is required for most properties used for holiday or short-stay accommodation.

Towns covered

East Lothian

What this means for you

If you let a property in the East Lothian Council area, you must confirm which licensing regime applies. HMO licensing applies where three or more unrelated people share a property. Every private landlord must also be entered on the Scottish Landlord Register. East Lothian Council has established a short-term let control area, meaning a licence is required for most short-term lets. Scottish private residential tenancies are open-ended, subject to the Repairing Standard and tribunal-based possession grounds. Always keep a comprehensive evidence pack for every East Lothian Council tenancy: a current gas safety record, an EICR no more than five years old, a valid EPC, working smoke and carbon monoxide alarms, deposit protection and prescribed information, and the required prescribed documents served before the tenancy starts.

Official links

• Licensing pages
• Council website