Running short lets in St Andrews and Fife, with The Open back on the Old Course in 2027
The R&A brings the 155th Open to St Andrews from 11 to 18 July 2027. When it was last there, in 2022, a record 290,000 fans came. Fife already had 2,301 licensed short lets at the end of 2025, fourth in Scotland. Upbridge's AI operations assistant, Cleo, works over WhatsApp with vacation rental operators and cleaning companies and organizes the cleanings and the inventory for each place.
What a short let in Fife needs
The licence and the council tax rules come from Holyrood, and Fife Council runs them locally. Each source below was opened and read on 24 October 2026.
| Topic | What it says | Status | Since | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| A licence first | In Scotland a short let has to be licensed before the first booking is taken. A licence usually lasts three years, and running a let without one is an offence that can mean a fine of up to £2,500. | In force | Page updated 9 October 2025 | mygov.scot |
| How many in Fife | Fife had 2,301 licences in operation on 31 December 2025. Only Highland, Edinburgh and Argyll and Bute had more. | In force | 31 December 2025 | Scottish Government |
| Second homes | Since 1 April 2026 Scotland has a national default premium of 100% on second homes, which each council can raise, lower or drop. Councils could already double the bill from April 2024. We couldn't confirm Fife's own current rate, so check the bill. | In force | 1 April 2026 | SPICe |
| Visitor levy | VisitScotland puts Fife among the councils in early discussions about a levy, with no consultation open and no date. | No specific law | Updated 9 September 2026 | VisitScotland |
We're reporting sources, not advising on your flat. Upbridge doesn't apply for licences or deal with Fife Council for owners.
The Open, and the weeks around it
The Old Course first hosted The Open in 1873, and 2027 will be its 31st time. It also marks 100 years since Bobby Jones won there in 1927. The R&A's dates run from Sunday 11 to Sunday 18 July.
A week like that turns a town of flats into one big changeover. Guests who stay for the whole week check in and out on nearly the same days, so most flats need cleaning at once on either side of it, and the linen has to be there in advance.
Where Upbridge helps in St Andrews
Bookings from Uplisting, Guesty, Hostaway or Lodgify, or from an iCal link, turn into cleanings in Upbridge, each with the flat's own checklist and photos by room. In Open week your phone shows which flats near the Links have been cleaned and which haven't.
The guest guide tells a golfer where to park and where the key is. With inventory per property each stay is subtracted from the flat's stock, so you can order towels for the week of The Open in June rather than during it.
If you run a cleaning company in Fife
Open week lands on every client at once. Every owner's calendar appears together in the cleaning-company account, so you know months ahead how many teams the Sunday after the final round needs, and your clients stay your own.
Questions about short lets in St Andrews and Fife
When is The Open at St Andrews in 2027?
The R&A gives 11 to 18 July 2027 for the 155th Open on the Old Course.
How many short-term let licences does Fife have?
2,301 at the end of 2025, the fourth highest of any Scottish council.
Is there a visitor levy in Fife?
No. VisitScotland lists Fife as having early discussions, without a consultation or a start date.
Sources
Checked on 24 October 2026
- The R&A, “The Open returns to the Home of Golf in 2027”, 23 January 2025.
- Scottish Government, short-term lets licensing statistics to 31 December 2025, by local area, published 28 April 2026.
- SPICe Spotlight, “New Scottish council tax powers for empty and second homes”, 24 March 2026.
- mygov.scot, short-term let licences, last updated 9 October 2025.
- VisitScotland, visitor levy schemes, last updated 9 September 2026.