If you are planning to run an Airbnb or short-term let in Fife, you need to know the rules. Since October 2022, all short-term lets in Scotland have required a licence, and each local council is responsible for managing applications. In Fife, that means dealing directly with Fife Council and following their specific process.
This blog sets out what you need to know if you want to host in Fife, including how to apply for a licence, what it costs, which documents you will need, and common pitfalls to avoid. It also shows how Breezyhost can make the process easier by tracking everything in one place.
Yes. Every property used as a short-term let in Fife must be licensed. That includes spare rooms, cottages, and flats. It does not matter whether you let for a few weeks a year or run a full-time Airbnb. Operating without a licence is unlawful and can result in fines.
Fife Council recognises four main licence types:
Secondary letting (a property you do not live in)
Home letting (your own home while you are away)
Home sharing (renting a room while you are at home)
Combined home letting and sharing
Applications can take time. If you were already operating before October 2022, Fife Council allows up to 12 months to process your application. If you are new to hosting, the council has up to 9 months. This means you cannot expect to be approved quickly, so planning ahead is essential.
When you apply for a short-term let licence in Fife you will need to provide:
Gas Safety Certificate (if applicable)
Electrical Installation Condition Report (EICR) every 5 years
Portable Appliance Testing (PAT) report every 5 years
EPC certificate (if required)
Buildings insurance
Public liability insurance
Legionella risk assessment
Planning permission documents if your property requires it
Personal details of all applicants or managers
All of these need to be kept up to date, with renewals and new certificates submitted on time.
Licence fees in Fife vary depending on the size of the property. As of early 2025, fees start at £295 for a property with 1–2 occupants and rise in steps as occupancy increases. Renewals are the same price as first-time licences.
If you want a temporary licence or exemption for up to six weeks, the fee is £195. This is sometimes used for festivals or one-off events.
Important to note: fees are non-refundable, even if your application is declined.
Once you have applied, you must display a public notice outside or near your property for 21 days. This informs neighbours that you are applying for a licence. After the 21 days are up, you need to submit a certificate confirming that you displayed the notice correctly.
Unlike Edinburgh, Fife does not currently have short-term let control areas. That means you do not automatically need planning permission for every short-term let, but you may still need it depending on the type and location of the property. For example, flats often require a change of use application.
A full short-term let licence in Fife is valid for three years. At the end of that period you must renew before the licence expires.
Do you need a licence if you only let a room for a few weeks in summer? Yes. The law applies to all short-term lets, no matter how short.
What if you already have an HMO licence? You will still need a short-term let licence, as they are separate legal requirements.
What happens if you operate without one? You risk a fine of up to £2,500 and could invalidate your insurance.
Many hosts in Fife find the process confusing. Guidance is spread across different PDFs and web pages. Deadlines are easy to miss, especially when juggling multiple properties. Documents expire at different times, and coordinating contractors for checks can quickly become a headache.
Breezyhost was designed to take the stress out of compliance. It does this by:
Showing you exactly what Fife Council requires in plain English
Tracking deadlines for licences and certificates automatically
Sending reminders before expiry dates
Storing all compliance documents securely in one place
Allowing you to assign tasks to team members or contractors
Instead of worrying whether your PAT test is about to expire or if you have displayed your public notice for long enough, Breezyhost keeps you organised and compliant.
Fife is one of Scotland’s most rewarding areas to host, thanks to St Andrews, the East Neuk, and the Fife Coastal Path. But success depends on staying compliant. By understanding the rules and using a tool like Breezyhost, you can protect your business and focus on giving guests a great experience.