Cleaning is one part of running a short-term let in Scotland. A good turnover routine supports a well-managed property, but a cleaning invoice is not a licence, a safety certificate or proof of planning permission. This guide separates the host responsibilities from the cleaning tasks we can agree with you.
Licensing comes before a cleaning schedule
Scottish Government guidance says new short-term let hosts must obtain the required licence before taking bookings or receiving guests. Check whether your accommodation falls within the scheme or an exemption, and confirm the appropriate licence type with the council. Start with the Scottish Government short-term lets guidance.
Cleaning does not replace mandatory safety checks
Official guidance covers matters including fire, gas, electrical and water safety, repair standards and insurance. The host must arrange the required assessments and documentation with appropriate competent people. Our cleaners can report visible concerns under an agreed procedure; an ordinary clean does not certify an alarm, electrical installation or water system.
Use the mygov.scot legal requirements checklist to identify the current documents and standards relevant to your property. Do not ask a cleaning checklist to stand in for specialist inspection records.
Edinburgh: planning and licensing are separate
The whole City of Edinburgh Council area is a short-term let control area. The council explains that using an entire dwelling that is not a principal home as a short-term let after 5 September 2022 requires planning permission. Older uses and different letting arrangements need their own assessment. Read the council guidance and confirm your circumstances before relying on a general summary.
See Edinburgh short-term let planning guidance and the council licensing information. For Glasgow properties, check the relevant local authority requirements rather than applying Edinburgh planning rules automatically.
What useful cleaning records look like
Agree a dated turnover checklist, who signs off the clean and how faults are escalated. Record linen changes and the agreed consumable replenishment. Keep clean and used linen separate. Record access problems and maintenance concerns factually, without claiming a property is legally compliant because it looks clean.
Clarify responsibility for waste, guest instructions and replacement supplies. If a cleaner notices a leak or a blocked route, they should know whom to contact. The host needs an action process rather than a folder of photographs that nobody reviews.
Arrange cleaning with clear boundaries
Matt Liam can agree changeovers, periodic deep cleans and linen hire for properties within our Glasgow and Edinburgh coverage. We provide cleaning services, not licence applications or regulatory certification. This operational overview was checked on 14 November 2026; consult the linked authorities for current property-specific requirements.
Build your routine with our changeover checklist and Airbnb cleaning service.