A SHORT-let management company has become the first in Scotland to be awarded a tourism accreditation.

The UK Short Term Accommodation Association (STAA) has just awarded Glasgow-based SpotHost with their first Scottish “Quality in Tourism (QIT)” accreditation.

QIT was established by STAA as short term lets and home sharing were becoming increasingly popular.

QIT assures SpotHost’s customers that their properties have been inspected and awarded “Safe, Clean and Legal” status and that the company processes and standards have been reviewed and verified.

SpotHost says it makes hosting simple and responsible. Scots are making significant money by renting out their homes that may otherwise be empty, when away on business or on holiday. In a study carried out by STAA, 63% of hosts reported that Airbnb income helped them to pay bills that they would otherwise struggle to pay.

But renting out a home can also be a hassle – from keeping neighbours happy and deciding who to trust, to check in and clean sheets. SpotHost says its clients clients “can relax, knowing that their guests will be personally met and communicated with, and that cleaning and maintenance is taken care of too”.

Unlike most short-term management companies, SpotHost says it only does in person key exchanges as they believe face to face makes all the difference for both hosts and guests.

Talha Bashir, co-founder of SpotHost, says “We are delighted to have been awarded the first Quality in Tourism accolade in Scotland. Our properties have been independently checked to ensure that they are of good quality and this provides our customers with further confidence when they book our accommodation.

“It is also very important to us that we ensure that all property lets adhere to regulatory requirements for the industry, as well as the industry code of conduct. This reassures our property owners that their property is let responsibly, so they can enjoy the benefits of short-term accommodation letting over and over again. Since our launch in Glasgow in 2017, we have checked in more than 13,000 guests, and generated more than £650,000 of client income for our property owners. It is important for us to personally meet every one of these guests to ensure that their needs are met and to offer our property owners peace of mind about who is staying in their home.”

Last year the company achieved an occupancy rate of more than 83% for its clients.