Our analysis of Edinburgh Council's planning decisions was featured in The Herald Scotland, one of the country's leading newspapers.
The Key Finding
Excluding commercial conversions, 97.2% of all 'traditional' short-term let applications in Edinburgh were refused in 2025. This represents an almost total presumption against converting residential property to short-term letting use.
The Herald quoted STL Solutions directly:
"Excluding commercial conversions, 97.2% of all 'traditional' Short Term Let (STL) applications were refused, indicating a strong policy presumption against converting residential property to short-term lets."
What the Data Shows
Our detailed analysis of Edinburgh's planning decisions reveals:
- Commercial-to-STL conversions (offices, retail, social clubs) are still being approved
- Residential flat-to-STL conversions face near-certain refusal
- The few residential approvals tend to involve unique circumstances or strong established-use arguments
Why This Matters
This data confirms what operators have suspected: Edinburgh's planning system has effectively shut the door on new residential STL applications. For existing operators without formal planning consent, the risk of enforcement is growing.
Our Recommendation
If you're operating in Edinburgh without planning consent, a Certificate of Lawfulness (CLUD) may be your strongest protection. If your use pre-dates the Short-Term Let Control Area (September 2022), you may be able to demonstrate established lawful use.
Read the full article: The Herald Scotland
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