Councillors on the city’s licensing committee will review the proposal today and decide whether to launch a full public consultation.

The Games, due to run from 23 July to 2 August 2026, will see around 3,000 athletes from up to 74 nations compete across 10 sports at four venues, with around 500,000 tickets expected to be issued. Officials predict a sharp spike in demand for accommodation, prompting calls for greater flexibility in letting rules.

Scotland’s national legislation permits councils to authorise up to three exemption periods per year, totalling no more than six weeks, during which properties can be let without a licence. Several cities, including Edinburgh, already make use of these powers for major events such as the Fringe Festival, Christmas and Hogmanay, and large sporting occasions.

However, Glasgow’s STL policy, introduced in September 2022, currently does not allow any temporary exemptions. The framework is reviewed every three years, and council officials argue that the upcoming Games represent an exceptional circumstance not anticipated when the policy was first adopted.

If exemptions are approved, property owners would still need to apply, with the licensing authority setting fees, processing timescales, and potentially attaching conditions. A consultation would also explore safeguards such as requiring input from Police Scotland and the Scottish Fire and Rescue Service to mitigate risks linked to temporary lets.

Industry voices have welcomed the proposal but stressed the need for wider reform.

Fiona Campbell MBE, CEO of the Association of Scotland’s Self-Caterers (ASSC), said: “The successful hosting of the Commonwealth Games requires a sufficient and available supply of visitor accommodation to meet the expected demand. In 2014, short-term lets played a vital role in providing this capacity, and they should do so again next year – but provided the right regulatory environment is in place.

“The ASSC will constructively engage with Glasgow City Council’s consultation on temporary exemptions. However, this alone may prove insufficient if there is not a balanced regulatory framework overall that enables professional self-caterers to continue operating. Currently, many small businesses being forced to close due to the combined pressures of an overly complex and burdensome conflated licensing and planning regime.

A well-designed and proportionate short-term let regime is essential, not only to support local businesses and jobs all year round, but to ensure Glasgow can welcome the world and successfully host the Games once again.”