The Scottish Government recently announced its Programme for Government, which the housing sector felt did not go far enough and lacked detail on the housing measures that the First Minister announced.
The Programme outlined several measures that the Scottish Government hopes will tackle housing supply and delivery, support the private rental sector, and reduce homelessness.
Housing Supply and Delivery
A new national body called More Homes Scotland will be established in April 2027, with the intention of joining up funding and expertise and enabling private finance for house building.
The Scottish Government has also committed to building 110,000 affordable homes across Scotland by 2032 (although the number of affordable homes being built every year has fallen since 2022/23) with at least 70 per cent intended for social rent.
In addition, the Scottish Government hopes 20,000 new properties will be built following plans to unlock delayed and stalled housing sites.
Finally, to assist first-time buyers, they can receive up to £10,000 from the First Homes Fund which opened at the end of June to assist with mortgage deposits for homes worth up to £300,000.
Renting
All 32 local authorities must complete an assessment of rent conditions in their area and submit a report to the Scottish Government by 31 May 2027 so Ministers can decide whether to introduce rent controls next year.
The Scottish Government is engaging with stakeholders, including Propertymark, on proposals to give private tenants a right of first refusal to purchase their rented home if their landlord decides to sell.
Private and social landlords will face fresh requirements when dealing with reports of damp and mould from 6 October 2026 via Awaab’s Law. Landlords will have to investigate reports of damp and mould within 10 working days, provide the tenant with a written summary of the investigation findings within three working days of completing the investigation, and start any required repairs within five working days of the investigation taking place where it is reasonably practicable.
Regarding energy efficiency, the Buildings (Heating and Energy Performance) and Heat Networks (Scotland) Bill aims to decarbonise heat in buildings by 2045.
Homelessness and Temporary Accommodation
First Minister John Swinney would like to stop the use of unsafe and harmful temporary accommodation for families and children.
Furthermore, the Scottish Government has committed to a £50 million Homelessness Prevention Fund as it tries to shift its approach from crisis management to prevention, with a focus on early intervention and rapid housing.
What is Propertymark’s Position on These Issues?
Propertymark is supportive of the ‘First Homes Fund’ and the commitment to build affordable homes.
However, the property professional body is concerned that the Programme for Government did not include proposals to reduce the Additional Dwelling Supplement of the Land and Buildings Transaction Tax, stating that this tax harms the private rental sector and increases costs for landlords.
Propertymark feels that a better-resourced First-tier Tribunal (Housing and Property Chamber) would benefit landlords and tenants because it would enable decisions to be made quicker, allowing tenants to stop accruing debt and landlords will be able to regain possession of their properties.
Finally, any reforms via the Heating and Energy Performance Bill to bring about minimum energy efficiency standards for the property sector in Scotland must be realistic and achievable, as well as avoid a one-size-fits-all approach for rural and urban housing. This is because any targets could be seen as unachievable for many landlords and could cause them to sell up.
How is Propertymark Supporting its Members to Prepare for These Changes?
Propertymark will continue to campaign for strong protections against substandard housing conditions.
Propertymark has issued a Housing (Scotland) Act 2025 Toolkit to ensure its members understand and can plan for the changes. It consists of guidance, fact sheets, timelines and other resources covering the Act and its implementation.
Awaab’s Law, meanwhile, has an official start date of 6 October 2026 and we have a factsheet for members along with a written summary outlining the new processes.
We are also feeding into the Scottish Government’s guidance for local authority rent control assessments.
Scotland’s private rental sector is undergoing substantial change, so keeping informed about the implementation timetable will be vital for landlords and agents.
