All Edinburgh hosts must hold a Short-Term Let (STL) licence, issued by Edinburgh City Council, before accepting bookings. New Town is within Edinburgh's Short-Term Let Control Area. In this area, whole-property short-letting requires planning permission in addition to a licence, so it is important to confirm your planning position before listing. A 5% Transient Visitor Levy applies to all guest stays in Edinburgh since April 2026 and must be collected and remitted by the operator. Houst guides you through the licence application, checks your planning position where relevant, and handles the levy as part of the management service. Read our full guide to Edinburgh short-let licence rules.