For international buyers

Buying a home in St Andrews for your student

Many of the families we work with are parents from overseas buying a flat (apartment) or house in St Andrews for a son or daughter at the University of St Andrews. We don't sell property, but we look after everything that comes after: letting the spare rooms to your student's flatmates, managing the tenancy, refurbishing, and letting it to visitors in summer through our sister company Short Stay St Andrews.

Ask about a property Read our buying guides

Local office on South Street
Registered letting agent LARN2110002
Part of the Short Stay Family

How it works

Owning a student home in St Andrews, step by step

You buy the home
A Scottish solicitor handles the purchase for you. Before you make an offer, we can tell you how a property you're considering would work as a student let.
We get it ready to let
Landlord registration with Fife Council, an HMO licence if three or more unrelated people will live there, safety certificates and an Energy Performance Certificate (EPC). We guide you through each one.
Your student moves in
We find flatmates for the other rooms, set up their private residential tenancies (Scotland's standard tenancy) and protect their deposits in an approved scheme.
We look after it all year
Rent, repairs and inspections are handled locally, and you can check everything from home in your landlord portal. In summer, the home can be let to visitors through Short Stay St Andrews.

For international buyers

Buying in Scotland: what to expect

Anyone can buy

There are no restrictions on international buyers, including Americans, buying a home in Scotland. You'll need a Scottish solicitor, who will check your identity and the source of your funds.

"Offers over" and closing dates

Homes are usually marketed at "offers over" a price. If several buyers are interested, the seller's agent sets a closing date for offers, rather than buyers bidding back and forth.

The Home Report

The seller has to provide a Home Report before marketing: a survey and valuation, an energy report and a property questionnaire. You see it before you offer.

Missives make it binding

The deal becomes binding when the two solicitors "conclude missives", the exchange of formal letters that makes up the contract. After that, neither side can walk away without consequences.

Tax when you buy

Scotland's Land and Buildings Transaction Tax (LBTT) replaces stamp duty. If you already own a home anywhere in the world, the Additional Dwelling Supplement of 8% of the price usually applies on top.

Tax on the rent

If you live outside the UK, rent is taxed under HMRC's Non-Resident Landlord Scheme. Your agent deducts basic-rate tax unless HMRC approves you to receive rent in full.

This is general information, not legal or tax advice. Last checked November 2026.

Before you make an offer

Three St Andrews rules to check first

HMO licences are limited in St Andrews

If three or more unrelated people will live in the home, including your student, it needs an HMO (house in multiple occupation) licence from Fife Council. Since 11 April 2019 Fife's overprovision policy has aimed for no further growth in HMOs in St Andrews, so new licences are hard to get. Check whether a home already has one, and if it does, make sure your application to take it over is made in time and you're registered as a landlord.

Landlord registration

Letting to anyone who isn't family means registering as a landlord with Fife Council before the tenancy starts. Letting only to your own family may be exempt. See mygov.scot.

Summer letting needs a licence

Letting the home to visitors in summer needs a short-term let licence from Fife Council. Fife is also considering a short-term let control area for St Andrews: councillors are due to decide in early 2027 whether to ask Scottish Ministers to approve it. If one is designated, new short-term lets in the area would need planning permission.

How we help

Everything after you buy, from one local family business

Student let managementFlatmates found and vetted, tenancies and deposits set up, rent collected and repairs handled, with a landlord portal you can check from anywhere.Student let management → RefurbishmentsKitchens, bathrooms, decoration, flooring and HMO upgrades, managed by our refurbishment team so the home is ready before term starts.Refurbishment services → Summer lettingOur sister company Short Stay St Andrews can let the home to visitors between academic years, with a short-term let licence in place.Short Stay St Andrews ↗

After graduationWhen your student graduates, you can keep letting to students, let to visitors, or refurbish. We'll help you plan what works best for your family.

Talk to us

Buying in Scotland from overseas

Guides for international buyers

A new guide every Friday, written for buyers from overseas: the offer process, the Home Report, missives, tax and letting rules, with Scottish terms explained.

How to Buy Real Estate in St Andrews22 March 2024 Why is St Andrews One of the Best Student Buy to Let Towns?7 September 2023

More student letting advice →

Thinking of buying?

Tell us about a property you're considering

Enter the property's details and choose "I'm thinking of buying it". We'll email you a first rent range for a home like it straight away, then one of our team will be in touch to talk it through.

Already bought? Use the same form with the home's current status, and we'll prepare a full proposal for managing it.

Prefer to talk? Call +44 1334 845 845 or email clients@shortstay.family. We're happy to talk by phone or Teams at a time that suits you.

Planning a refurbishment or renovation? Use our refurbishment enquiry form.

1. The property

Postcode *

House name or number, and street *Flat number, or anything else about the address (optional)Village or town *Property type *

2. About you

First name *Last name *Email *Phone *How would you like us to contact you? *How did you hear about us? *

3. Letting the property

Bedrooms that can be let *Bathrooms *Furnished? *Who is it best suited to?Is it registered with the council's landlord register? *HMO licence (for 3 or more unrelated tenants) *EPC ratingWhat's happening with it now? *When could a tenancy start?Which service are you interested in?

Anything else we should know?Photos or floor plans (optional, up to 5)

FAQs

Questions from international buyers

Can international buyers buy property in Scotland?

Yes. There are no restrictions on buyers from overseas, including Americans, buying a home in Scotland. You'll need a Scottish solicitor (the lawyer who handles the purchase and the title), and they will check your identity and where your funds come from before the sale goes ahead.

Do you sell property?

No. St Andrews Property Co doesn't sell homes. Homes for sale in St Andrews are marketed by estate agents and solicitors. Once you've found one, we can tell you how it would work as a student let, and look after it once you've bought it.

Can my son or daughter live there while the other rooms are let?

Yes. Your student can live in the home while flatmates rent the other rooms. We set up and manage the flatmates' tenancies and explain the registration and licensing the home needs. If three or more unrelated people will live there, it needs an HMO licence from Fife Council.

Do I need to register as a landlord?

If you let to anyone who isn't a member of your family, you must register as a landlord with Fife Council before letting. Letting only to family members may be exempt. See landlord registration on mygov.scot.

Will I pay UK tax on the rent?

Usually, yes. If you live outside the UK, rent from your St Andrews home falls under HMRC's Non-Resident Landlord Scheme: your letting agent deducts basic-rate tax from the rent unless HMRC approves you to receive it in full. You may also have tax to report in your home country, so speak to an adviser who knows both systems.

Can we let it to visitors in the summer?

Yes, with a short-term let licence from Fife Council. Our sister company Short Stay St Andrews can let it to visitors between academic years and look after the guests. Fife Council is also considering a short-term let control area for St Andrews (see below), so check the latest position before you buy if summer letting matters to you.

How do we reach you from overseas?

Call us on +44 1334 845 845, email clients@shortstay.family or use the form on this page. We're happy to talk by phone or Teams at a time that suits you, wherever you are.

This is general information, not legal or tax advice. Last checked November 2026.

Part of the Short Stay Family

A Family Business, A Local Heart

St Andrews Property Co is part of the Short Stay Family, a locally based, family-run business led by Jordan and Gemma. We're not a faceless agency: we live here, and we care about the town our tenants, students and landlords call home.

St Andrews Property Co was founded in 2018. Today our team at 195 South Street looks after student lets, property management and refurbishments, while our sister companies Short Stay St Andrews and East Fife Holiday Homes look after holiday homes in St Andrews, Kingsbarns and the East Neuk.

Our ethos is simple: people first. Whether it's a student flat in the town centre or a family home let to professionals, every property and every tenant gets the same care.

Jordan and Gemma, who lead the Short Stay Family, by the harbour in the East Neuk

Family runLed by Jordan & Gemma with a genuine personal touch.

South Street officePop in at 195 South Street or give us a call.

Registered letting agentLetting Agent Registration Number LARN2110002.

Short Stay familyLocal team, backed by 350+ homes across Fife.

One family, three local names

The same family and the same values behind every home we look after.

St Andrews Property CoStudent lets, property management and refurbishments in St Andrews.You're here

Short Stay St AndrewsHoliday homes in St Andrews and Kingsbarns, from town flats to homes by West Sands.Visit Short Stay St Andrews ↗

East Fife Holiday HomesCottages in Elie, Crail, Anstruther, Pittenweem & St Monans, from our Elie office.Visit East Fife Holiday Homes ↗