Glasgow is one of the most exciting cities in the UK to run a short term let. With world-class music venues, museums, two major universities, and a growing tourism sector, demand for flexible accommodation is strong.
The opportunity is real:
Average nightly rate: £112
Typical occupancy: 73 percent
Average annual host revenue: £28,000
Listings booked around 266 nights per year¹
That makes Glasgow one of Scotland’s strongest short term let markets. But profitability only comes if you stay on the right side of the law. Since 2022, every host has faced strict licensing and compliance requirements. Ignore them, and you risk heavy fines or being forced out of the market.
Since 1 October 2022, all short term lets in Scotland have required a licence under the Civic Government (Scotland) Act 1982 (Licensing of Short-term Lets). In Glasgow this means:
You must apply for a licence before hosting, unless you applied before 1 October 2023 and are covered by transitional rules
You must meet safety requirements including annual gas safety checks, electrical installation condition reports (EICR), portable appliance testing (PAT), interlinked fire alarms, and a written fire risk assessment²
You may need planning permission, especially if the property is a flat or tenement
You must hold insurance that explicitly covers short term letting
Once approved, you must display your licence number on all listings and adverts
Failure to comply is a criminal offence. Fines can reach £2,500 and bans of up to a year can be issued.²
By December 2023 more than 23,500 licence applications had been submitted across Scotland. Almost 10,000 were still unvalidated because documents were missing or incomplete.⁴
In Glasgow, professional operators have mostly stayed in the market, while casual part-time hosts were more likely to exit.³ Airbnb has argued that licensing has not reduced housing costs. Average rents in Scotland actually rose 6.8 percent in the year to January 2024, the highest increase in over a decade.⁴
The message is clear: if you are serious about hosting in Glasgow, compliance is unavoidable.
Document overload
Different certificates expire at different times. Gas safety every year, EICR every five years, PAT testing usually annual, fire risk assessments often annual. Missing even one can leave you non-compliant.
Planning permission hurdles
Flats and tenements face stricter checks. Many applications are delayed or refused, especially where there are neighbour objections.
Renewals and deadlines
Licences last three years. Renewal applications must be on time and include up-to-date safety documents. Councils are strict — late submissions risk suspension.
These challenges explain why so many applications across Scotland remain stuck in limbo.
Most Glasgow hosts get into trouble not because they want to break the rules, but because the admin burden is relentless. Certificates expire at different times. Renewal cycles overlap. Councils demand updated documents with little flexibility.
This is exactly why Breezyhost exists. With Breezyhost you can:
See all of Glasgow’s requirements in one dashboard
Store every safety certificate securely with expiry reminders
Get alerts before renewals so you never miss a deadline
Assign compliance tasks to cleaners, contractors, or managers with clear due dates
Keep all evidence ready in case the council inspects or guests ask about safety
Instead of juggling paper files, spreadsheets, and WhatsApp groups, you get a clear system that keeps you compliant and confident.
Glasgow is a brilliant market for short term lets. The demand is strong, the income potential is real, and guests are looking for quality operators. But the licensing system is strict. Without a licence and the right compliance process, you could face penalties that end your hosting journey overnight.
With Breezyhost, you protect your income, your guests, and your peace of mind. Compliance becomes simple, and hosting becomes what it should be — rewarding.
Airbtics, "Annual Airbnb revenue in Glasgow, Scotland, United Kingdom" — https://airbtics.com/annual-airbnb-revenue-in-glasgow-scotland-united-kingdom
Glasgow City Council, "Short Term Let Licence" — https://www.glasgow.gov.uk/shorttermlets
Bnbcalc, "Short Term Rental Regulation: Glasgow UK Guide" — https://www.bnbcalc.com/blog/short-term-rental-regulation/Glasgow-UK-Guide
Scottish Government, "Short term lets licensing statistics, January 2024" — https://www.gov.scot/publications/short-term-lets-licensing-statistics-january-2024
Urban Big Data Centre, "Regulating short term lets" — https://www.ubdc.ac.uk/news-media/2023/october/regulating-short-term-lets