Landlord licensing in Shetland Islands Council

Licensing at a glance

HMO licensing

HMO licensing applies where three or more unrelated people share a property as their only or main residence. This is a mandatory national scheme. All private landlords must also be registered on the Scottish Landlord Register.

Additional licensing

There is no separate additional licensing scheme in place for the Shetland Islands Council area for long-term lets. HMO licensing and national landlord registration cover shared housing for long-term tenancies. Additionally, a mandatory short-term let licensing scheme is in force.

Selective licensing

There is no selective licensing scheme for long-term tenancies in the Shetland Islands Council area. Landlord registration is mandatory for all private landlords across Scotland. The Shetland Islands Council also operates a mandatory short-term let licensing scheme, as required by national legislation.

Towns covered

Shetland Islands

What this means for you

If you let a property in the Shetland Islands Council area, the first step is to confirm which licensing regime applies. HMO licensing applies where three or more unrelated people share a property as their only or main residence. Every private landlord must also be entered on the Scottish Landlord Register, which is maintained by the council. Mandatory licensing also applies to all short-term lets. Scottish lets use the Private Residential Tenancy, which is open-ended, with the Repairing Standard and tribunal-based possession grounds. Whatever the licensing position, landlords must keep an evidence pack for every Shetland Islands Council tenancy. This should include a current gas safety record where gas is present, 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.