Selective licence Bristol

[Martyn18]

I have just found out that I may need a selective licence for renting a room through Airbnb in the Eastville area of Bristol. Can anybody in the area please clarify? Thanks!

[Helen3]

What's a 'selective license' @Martyn18  I host in East Bristol and have never heard of it?

[Martyn18]

I have had my attention drawn to this on the council's web page

https://www.bristol.gov.uk/licences-permits/types-of-licence

It is the last section that concerns me and just wondered if anyone local  knows more?

[Martyn18]

https://www.bristol.gov.uk/licences-permits/apply-for-a-property-licence-page?fbclid=IwAR2uCAX5OnLzt...

This page keeps timing out before I can send! What are STRs?

https://www.bristol.gov.uk/licences-permits/types-of-licence

This is at bottom of this page

Selective licence

Selective licensing applies to non-HMO properties in areas of the city where we've declared selective licensing schemes.

To see if your property is in the licensing areas around Eastville and St George you can check the:

• map of additional and selective propertiesto see if your property is in a licensing area

List of streets in the Eastville and St George licensing area (pdf, 97KB) (opens new window) (pdf, 9...

[Martyn18]

Hi Helen, I tried at least three times to reply to your private message but every time I hit send it says the page has timed out!

[Gordon0]

What the heck is one of those, @Martyn18, and who told you one's needed?

[Martyn18]

Hi Gordon, please see my reply to Helen above

[Helen3]

Hello @Martyn18 

I am getting your private messages 🙂 

What I don't understand is why you feel council regs around HMO's and selective licensing which is for landlords who have tenants, not those doing STRs applies to you as a host?

[Martyn18]

It has all come about because I received an enquiry from a previous guest who was looking to return for a longer stay, but with council assistance. They shared with me the page links that someone from the council provided and set my alarm bells off! 

[Helen3]

Ah now you have actually explained the situation it makes much more sense. @Martyn18 

These regs don't apply to STRs but MAY apply if you have a HMO.

Even is you do a longer term rental it doesn't sound as if you would be offering a HMO so I am a little confused as to why these regs are concerning you.

I also do long term rentals but am not covered by the council's HMO regs because I only have two tenants.

In your situation I would be a little wary of letting your place out long term to someone reliant on benefits to pay the rent, so do make sure you have a proper tenancy agreement, take up references, credit check etc.