Tuesday October 21st 2025
Short term let in Gullane, East Lothian
Written by Local Democracy Reporter, Marie Sharp
A short term let operator says East Lothian Council could damage his reputation after issuing an enforcement notice on a property no longer in use.
Joe Avant says he has not used his property in Gullane since its licence to operate ran out in August this year and it has been on the market for some months.
Despite this, he claims the local authority issued an enforcement notice ordering him to stop renting it out last month.
In an appeal to Scottish Ministers Mr Avant says the action could have a negative impact on ongoing plans to operate another short term let in a difference local authority area.
He says: “This enforcement notice could potentially damage my name and reputation and may jeopardise any future licence applications, despite my full compliance.
“I am currently renovating a building in another council area and intend to apply for an STL licence there in the near future. I do not want this enforcement notice to negatively impact that application.”
Mr Avant was granted a licence to operate the short term late on East Road, in the village last year, however an application for a Certificate of Lawfulness to allow the change of use of the property to a short term let through planning was refused and an appeal to Scottish Ministers was rejected.
Mr Avant is asking Scottish Ministers to throw out the enforcement notice issued by the council against him saying he informed the local authority the flat was no longer being used for the holiday lets.
And he says the council also sent him the wrong notice in an email giving the flat address as East Road in North Berwick.
He says: “I ceased all short term lets (STL) in mid-August when my STL licence, previously granted by ELC, expired.
“The property has, in fact, been on the market for sale since July. In August, I contacted the ELC licensing department to notify them that I would no longer be operating the STL in question. They replied and confirmed receipt of
this notification.
“Despite this, ELC issued an enforcement notice in September,
approx one month after I had ceased operations and informed them of this change.”
A Scottish Government Reporter will investigate the appeal.
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