Edinburgh: 3-Year Renewal Options Now Available

On the 19th of May 2025, the City of Edinburgh Council's Regulatory Committee resolved to extend the length of time for which a Secondary Let STL Licence can be renewed from 1 year to 3 years.

This decision represented a distinct change in policy, with members diverging from their earlier decision to resist calls — both from STL operators and stakeholders, and the city's own regulatory officers — for such a measure.

The decision brings the period for which a Secondary Let licence can be renewed in line with the 3-year licensed period currently associated with the Home-Letting and Home-Sharing licence types.

Members' thinking may also be partly underpinned by the city's recent admissions regarding the "relatively low number of complaints received in respect of secondary lets."

What This Means for Existing Applicants

The decision initially posed uncomfortable questions: what of those licensees who had already applied to renew their licences prior to 19 May?

STL Solutions has been advocating on behalf of our licensing clients for a position where ALL those whose licensing renewal applications have not yet been determined will be afforded a potential 3-year renewal period.

Following these representations, the Council now appears to be indicating a flexible approach. One of our clients, who submitted a renewal in April 2025, has been contacted directly by the licensing team and offered the opportunity to "upgrade" their renewal application to a 3-year licence by paying an additional fee (£400).

Our Advice

• If you have already submitted a renewal application for a 1-year secondary let licence and would prefer a 3-year licence, contact CEC licensing directly — or if an STL Solutions client, contact our licensing team.
• If invited to upgrade, you will be asked to pay the outstanding fee difference of £400 and quote your licence reference.
• As this process is not yet formally published on the Council's website, proceed cautiously and keep a record of any communication or payments made.

Note: This option is only available to existing licensees seeking secondary letting renewals. Home let and home share licences are already subject to 3-year terms. New secondary let applications remain restricted to 1-year initial terms, capable of being renewed for 3 years before expiry.