Wednesday July 22nd 2026
Edinburgh City Chambers
Written by Local Democracy Reporter, Joe Sullivan
Short-term let operators have been implored to be aware of the laws that govern the properties by a top Edinburgh councillor.
Licensing sub-committee convener and Conservative councillor Joanna Mowat issued the call at the sub-committee’s meeting on Monday (20).
The sub-committee was considering, and eventually granted, a short-term let licence for a property that had been operating without one since it was purchased.
Its owner, Pawel Lewicki, stated that when he had purchased the property, the previous owner had told him the flat carried a short-term lets licence.
But the law does not allow short-term lets licences to be transferred between owners, as they are tied to the individual who owns the property.
Instead, licenses are tied to individuals, meaning they come to an end when a property is sold.
At the end of a long hearing on the application, which also involved concerns two neighbours had over the property, Cllr Mowat said: “I think I have a certain amount of sympathy.
“We’ve got a situation where someone has taken over and bought a property which had a short-term lets licence, and there has obviously been a misunderstanding on both sides.
“Now, for anyone that’s in the room, pass the message on. You cannot transfer a licence. You need to apply for your own new licence.”
She added that short-term lets licences were unusual compared to some other forms of licence, in that they cannot be transferred to other people.
In addition, she said people selling properties had a responsibility to be aware of the law as well, and should inform purchasers of their properties that licenses would not transfer.
Mr Lewicki earlier apologised for not having the property licensed, and said the responsibility had been on him to make sure everything was in order.
He added that he lives in the property as his primary residence, and intended to let it out every other weekend.
To address complaints raised by neighbours around noise and large groups attending the property, he stated that he would be willing to reduce visitor counts from four to three.
He also suggested that he could implement a minimum stay duration requirement.
The objectors said that on a number of occasions, groups larger than four people had stayed in the property.
But Mr Lewicki responded that at least on some occasions, these groups were members of his family, and said he could show councillors photos from their visits to demonstrate this.
The objectors also said they did not believe he lived in the property full time, with one stating that they had seen him in the stair possibly once since he purchased the property.
Later in the meeting, Liberal Democrat councillor Jack Caldwell said that Mr Lewicki had provided evidence it was his primary residence to the council.
This was through council tax bills, proof of parcel deliveries, letters from HMRC and being the named person on power and gas bills.
He added: “I think it’s worth the committee acknowledging that the previously unlicensed activity there was absolutely not acceptable and not appropriate.
“However, what we have to look at as a committee is bringing things into regulated practice where possible to try and improve things as well.”
The objectors had also stated that contact details had not been provided to them in the event they needed to raise concerns about visitors to the property.
Cllr Mowat continued: “What concerns me is that somebody didn’t say, ‘here are the contact details’.
“That will have to be resolved if the licence is granted, because that is a breach of licence conditions. That will have to be resolved if the licence is granted.
“But I’m sure it will be resolved, Mr Lewicki, because you understand now, and there is a learning curve with this.”
Councillors voted to grant the licence, and incorporated the offer to reduce the maximum occupancy from four to three that the owner had suggested.
They also voted to issue the licence for a duration of one year, instead of the three that had been applied for.
The licence will go into effect 28 days after Monday’s hearing.
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