Landlord licensing in Midlothian Council

Licensing at a glance

HMO licensing

Mandatory HMO licensing applies to properties shared by three or more unrelated people, forming two or more households. Every private landlord must also be entered on the Scottish Landlord Register, which is a separate requirement.

Additional licensing

Midlothian Council does not operate a separate additional licensing scheme for private landlords. Compliance for shared housing is primarily through mandatory HMO licensing and the Scottish Landlord Register.

Selective licensing

Midlothian Council does not operate a selective licensing scheme for private landlords. All private landlords must register with the Scottish Landlord Register. Midlothian Council operates a Short-Term Let Licensing Scheme for holiday lets and other short-term accommodation.

Towns covered

Midlothian

What this means for you

If you let a property in the Midlothian Council area, ensure compliance with all Scottish private residential tenancy laws. This includes mandatory landlord registration for all private landlords. HMO licensing applies where three or more unrelated people share a property. Short-term let licensing is a separate regime, and Midlothian Council operates a Short-Term Let Licensing Scheme. Designations, fees and boundaries in Scotland can change, so always check the council's own licensing pages for the latest information before each new tenancy. Scottish lets use the private residential tenancy, which is open-ended, with the Repairing Standard and tribunal-based possession grounds. For every Midlothian Council tenancy, keep 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 all required prescribed documents served before the tenancy starts.

Official links

• Licensing pages
• Council website