Landlord licensing in Orkney Islands Council

Licensing at a glance

HMO licensing

HMO licensing applies where three or more unrelated people, forming three or more households, share a property and pay rent. All private landlords in Scotland must also be registered on the Scottish Landlord Register.

Additional licensing

Orkney Islands Council does not operate a separate additional licensing scheme. HMO licensing and the general landlord registration cover all regulated tenancies.

Selective licensing

Orkney Islands Council does not operate selective licensing. Landlord registration applies to all private landlords of properties let under a Private Residential Tenancy.

Towns covered

Orkney Islands

What this means for you

If you let a property in the Orkney Islands Council area, the first step is to confirm the relevant licensing regime. HMO licensing applies where three or more unrelated people share a property. Every private landlord must also be entered on the Scottish Landlord Register, which is held by the local authority. There is no separate additional licensing scheme; HMO licensing plus landlord registration cover shared housing. Landlord registration applies to all private rented properties. Some councils also operate short-term let control areas that affect holiday lets. Designations, fees and boundaries in Scotland can change, so check the council's own licensing pages before each new tenancy. Scottish lets use the Private Residential Tenancy, which is open-ended, with the Repairing Standard and tribunal-based possession grounds. Regardless of the licensing position, landlords must keep an evidence pack for every tenancy: a current gas safety record where there is gas, 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.