Whilst the application process may be technical, in most cases a Short-Term Let Licence can be obtained.

However, where public objections are received against an application, matters can quickly become more challenging.

Licensing Sub-Committees, sometimes called Regulatory Panels, are made up of local councillors whose job is to decide contentious Licensing Applications.

Each local authority has a panel of members to receive referrals where objections have been raised, or where there are concerns from consultees such as the police and Fire and Rescue Service.

Committee hearings are quasi-judicial, meaning that they take place in an open, court-like setting, in the presence of the public, public officials and solicitors.

Proceedings are governed by the requirements of the law which dictates what decisions Committees can make, for what reasons, and what matters can be raised, discussed and explored.

Having a licence refused can have an impact on an individual’s ability to procure other or future licences and any past refusal will have to be declared when making any subsequent licence applications.

It is therefore important that licence applicants receive proper and appropriate advice, to ensure that an application is not refused or restricted improperly.

We offer service packages ranging from formal consultations to discuss the circumstances of a referral and frame an appropriate response to full representation packages where an experienced member of our team will appear before the Committee or Panel alongside or instead of an applicant.