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Is the cleaning fee included in the Edinburgh visitor levy?

Yes, in almost every case. The council's guidance says standard cleaning counts towards the 5% levy even when you list it as a separate cleaning fee, because a guest cannot book the place uncleaned for less. Only a cleaning charge the guest can genuinely choose not to pay is left out.

Why does the cleaning fee count?

The levy is 5% of the "accommodation portion": what the guest pays for the right to stay. The law takes out meals and drinks, parking, laundry, entertainment and transport, but not cleaning. Edinburgh's guide for providers (version 2.1, September 2026) quotes the national VisitScotland guidance: optional extras such as paid laundry or extra towels come out, but standard cleaning stays in, "irrespective of whether the accommodation provider itemises cleaning separately".

So splitting the price into "£110 a night plus a £70 cleaning fee" on Airbnb does not shrink the levy. Airbnb's own help page for Edinburgh hosts says the same: the levy applies to all fees you charge the guest, such as the nightly price and cleaning fees.

Does the 5 night cap apply to the cleaning fee?

It depends how you charge it. A cleaning fee charged per night counts only for the first 5 nights, like the room price. A one-off cleaning fee charged whatever the length of stay is likely to count in full, even on a 10 night booking. The council says you must be able to show how you worked it out if asked, so keep a note of how each fee is charged.

A worked example: a two-bed flat in Marchmont

A host lets a two-bed flat in Marchmont on Airbnb. They are not VAT registered. A family books 4 nights from 13 to 17 November 2026 at £110 a night, plus a £70 one-off cleaning fee.

Leaving the cleaning fee out would give £22.00, which is £3.50 too little on one booking. Across a year of short stays that gap adds up, and the council can charge penalties for an inaccurate return. The guest checks out on 17 November, so this stay goes in the October to December 2026 return: submit by 30 January 2027, pay by 13 February 2027.

Now say the same flat takes a 7 night booking at £100 a night with cleaning charged at £15 a night. Only the first 5 nights count, for the room and the cleaning: £500 plus £75 is £575, and the levy is £28.75. If the cleaning were a £70 one-off fee instead, it would count in full: £500 plus £70 is £570, and the levy is £28.50.

When can I leave cleaning out?

Only when the guest has a real choice. The guidance says that if the place can be booked without cleaning, for example cleaning is a separate charge the guest can legitimately opt out of, that cost does not need to be included. A "choice" no guest can actually take, such as a cleaning fee that is always added, does not count as optional.

Things you can leave out, because the guest chooses them or the law excludes them: optional laundry, paid extra linen or towels, separately charged parking, meals and drinks such as breakfast, entertainment and transport. Never add the levy itself to the amount you charge 5% on.

What about VAT, Glasgow and Wales?

• VAT registered: take the VAT out of the room price and the cleaning fee first, then take 5%.
• Glasgow and other Scottish councils: the cleaning wording comes from the national VisitScotland guidance that every Scottish scheme uses, so expect the same answer. Check each council's own guide before its first return.
• Wales: the levy is a flat amount per person per night (Cardiff £1.30 from 1 April 2027), so the cleaning fee makes no difference.

What to do, step by step

1. Look at how your cleaning fee is set up on each platform: one-off, per night, or truly optional.
2. Download your bookings for the quarter from Airbnb, Booking.com or your own records.
3. For each stay, add the first 5 nights and the cleaning fee (per-night cleaning for the first 5 nights only), take out VAT if you are registered, and take 5%.
4. Group the stays by check-out date and fill in the return on visitorlevy.scot.
5. Keep your 2%, pay the rest by the payment date, and keep your records for 5 years.

Related

• Edinburgh visitor levy calculator: how much do I owe?
• How do I fill in the Edinburgh visitor levy return?
• Does Airbnb pay the Edinburgh visitor levy for me?

General information, not tax or legal advice. Sources: City of Edinburgh Council, Edinburgh Visitor Levy Scheme: information for accommodation providers (version 2.1, September 2026); City of Edinburgh Council, visitor levy information for businesses; Visitor Levy (Scotland) Act 2024, section 5; Airbnb help: visitor levy in Edinburgh; Welsh Government, visitor levy for accommodation providers. Last checked 6 October 2026. Nero Engine Group Ltd, company 16521432, 66 Paul Street, London EC2A 4NA. Privacy · Terms