‘Short-Term Let’ is the term used when an owner-occupier crofter lets all, or part, of their croft on a short lease to a ’tenant’ for a period not exceeding 10 years.
The Crofting Commission uses a system with ‘parameters’ to decide how to process Short Term Letting applications. Parameters are criteria that the Crofting Commission has agreed on.
If an application meets all the parameters, it is considered to be a ‘straightforward’ application. Straightforward applications can be processed more quickly by Casework Officers.
If an application does not meet all the parameters, it is considered to be a more complex application. Complex applications may take longer to process and are decided at a more senior level.
If any of these parameters are not met, the application will be escalated and considered at by more senior staff within the Crofting Commission. For further information on our tiered delegated decision making process please visit How decisions are made on regulatory applications
What you need to apply:
Detailed site map of the area being applied for, if you are applying for a short-term lease of only part of the croft. If you are applying for a short-term lease of the whole croft, then a map is not required. See the Maps section of our website for more information.
It is important to read the guidance notes fully before and as you complete the application form. These notes will tell you what information you need to include in your application and what other documents you need to submit.
It is also important to consider the decision parameters when preparing your application.
If the application doesn’t meet the parameters, if objections are received, if there is any inconsistencies between the application and the Register of Crofts, or if the application is not completed correctly it will take longer to decide your application.
You can submit your Short Term Let application online (recommended) or by post. To find the correct form you need, please refer to the form finder.
An owner-occupier crofter applying for a Short-Term Let is not required to register the croft with the Keeper of the Registers of Scotland, as it is not creating a permanent tenancy.
If the short-term letting application includes a grazings share(s) (eg where the Owner Occupier crofter owns both the croft and the right to graze) written notification of the application needs to be given to all of the owners of the common grazings.
Once the Crofting Commission has received your completed Short Term Let application (and map, if this is required) we will check to make sure that you have completed the correct form and submitted all the required information. If you have not submitted everything correctly, you will be made aware and will have a specified amount of time to submit the information requested.
If your application meets the parameters, we will try to make a decision on your application within 16 weeks. If the application does not meet the parameters, it may take longer for a decision to be taken. Please refer to ‘How decisions are made on applications for more information.
If the application is granted, the Commission will prepare a standard lease for completion and return by the owner-occupier crofter and the proposed short-lease tenant. The lease will include the condition that the tenant will fulfil the duties, set out in the Crofters (Scotland) Act 1993, relating to residency and land use.
The Commission may terminate a ‘Short Term Let’ if:
If your application is refused, you will be informed of the reasons, and you have the option to appeal to the Scottish Land Court within 42 days. Please refer to the Appeals page for more information.
Example-of-short-term-lease-digital.pdf
law-policy-and-procedure-short-term-letting-by-an-owner-occupier-crofter-2024.pdf
leaflet-on-ddm-and-escalating-cases-short-term-let-210316.pdf