{"id":119922,"date":"2026-09-01T10:29:37","date_gmt":"2026-09-01T10:29:37","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.citylets.co.uk\/blog\/?p=119922"},"modified":"2026-09-01T10:29:39","modified_gmt":"2026-09-01T10:29:39","slug":"scottish-landlords-key-changes-for-2026-27","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.citylets.co.uk\/blog\/scottish-landlords-key-changes-for-2026-27\/","title":{"rendered":"Scottish Landlords: Key Changes for 2026\u201327"},"content":{"rendered":"

During 2025, Scotland passed the Housing (Scotland) Act 2025, introducing a range of reforms to the private rented sector.<\/p>\n

The legislation provides for a number of changes designed to strengthen tenants\u2019 rights, including new rights to request permission to keep a pet or make certain changes to their home, as well as changes to the frequency with which rents can be increased.<\/p>\n

However, many of these measures require further secondary legislation and do not yet have a commencement date.<\/p>\n

Two significant areas of reform that landlords and letting agents should be preparing for are Awaab\u2019s Law and the introduction of Rent Control Areas.<\/p>\n

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Rent Control Areas<\/h2>\n

The Housing (Scotland) Act 2025 establishes a framework for evidence-based Rent Control Areas in Scotland. However, Rent Control Areas are not currently scheduled to come into effect in 2027.<\/p>\n

From 1 April 2026, local authorities have been required to assess rent conditions in their areas. Their first assessment reports must be submitted to Scottish Ministers by 31 May 2027, with further assessments required on a five-yearly cycle. However, due to the local government elections next year, the local authorities will need to complete the assessment reports by mid-March, which is a tight deadline.<\/p>\n

These assessments will help Scottish Ministers determine whether it is necessary and proportionate to designate a Rent Control Area in a particular local authority area.<\/p>\n

If an area is designated, rent increases for applicable private residential tenancies will be capped at Consumer Price Index (CPI) plus 1%, subject to a maximum increase of 6%. The cap will apply both within and between tenancies.<\/p>\n

The Scottish Government has also introduced exemptions from rent controls for certain types of housing, including Mid-Market Rent and Build-to-Rent properties, with the aim of supporting investment and increasing housing supply.<\/p>\n

The local authority assessments will inform Scottish Ministers\u2019 decisions on whether it is justified and proportionate to designate rent control areas in the proposed areas; there is no time frame for when the Scottish Government must respond to the reports, but Propertymark urges it to do so as quickly as possible to avoid prolonging uncertainty.<\/p>\n

Propertymark\u2019s position on Rent Control Areas<\/h2>\n

Propertymark has consistently opposed the introduction of rent controls, while continuing to engage with the Scottish Government on the detail of the framework and its implementation.<\/p>\n

The organisation has argued that rent controls can protect some tenants in the short term but do not address the underlying shortage of homes. It has also warned that controls could weaken investment, reduce the number of properties available, and make it harder for people seeking a new tenancy to find a suitable home.<\/p>\n

Propertymark has highlighted concerns about the availability of rental properties in rural Scotland and has argued that a supply-led approach is needed to improve affordability and availability.<\/p>\n

The organisation has welcomed changes to the legislation, including the decision to set the rent cap at CPI plus 1%, subject to a maximum of 6%, rather than the more restrictive proposals originally considered.<\/p>\n

Propertymark continues to argue that the exemptions regime should go further to avoid disproportionately disadvantaging individual landlords and to ensure that the private rented sector continues to attract investment.<\/p>\n

The organisation is also calling for consideration of circumstances where landlords have kept rents below market levels or made significant investment in improving their properties.<\/p>\n

Propertymark continues to engage with the Scottish Government on the detail of the rent-control framework, including exemptions and the circumstances in which rents may be permitted to increase above the standard cap.<\/p>\n

Awaab\u2019s Law<\/h2>\n

From 6 October 2026, Awaab\u2019s Law will introduce new requirements for private and social landlords in Scotland when dealing with reports of damp and mould.<\/p>\n

The requirements are set out in the Investigation and Commencement of Repair (Scotland) Regulations 2026 and will apply to both private and social landlords. The Scottish Government intends to publish its guidance on 1 September.<\/p>\n

Landlords will be required to:<\/p>\n