A wave of significant regulatory and legislative changes is sweeping through the UK’s private rented sector, headlined by a major milestone for Scottish housing laws and upcoming transparency measures across the wider market.

With a set of clear rules under the Housing (Scotland) Act 2025 officially coming into force on 6 October, landlords and letting agents must act quickly to meet stricter compliance standards, enhanced tenant protections, and new rent data-reporting requirements.

Awaab’s Law comes to Scotland

New legal rules on damp and mould, known as Awaab's Law, take effect next week. They give private landlords strict deadlines to investigate reported hazards, write to tenants with the results, and fix the problems.

The Scottish Government has published comprehensive tenant guidance and landlord guidance including easy-read formats to help landlords and agents navigate the compliance rules.

Refined tenancy succession rules

The rules governing what happens to a private residential tenancy after a tenant passes away are also shifting under Scottish law. The minimum time a qualifying person (such as a cohabiting partner, family member, or resident carer) must have lived in the property to inherit the tenancy is being reduced from 12 months to six months. Landlords are reminded they must have written evidence on file showing the claimant occupied the property as their main home.

Steeper penalties for wrongful terminations

To curb unlawful evictions, the First-tier Tribunal will now have the power to award tenants displaced by wrongfully terminated private residential tenancies, a sum ranging between three and 36 months' rent. Legal experts stress that meticulous record-keeping and clear documentation before issuing any notice to leave are now more critical than ever.

Broader horizon: Pet rights and digital databases

Beyond the immediate October changes, the regulatory landscape in Scotland continues to evolve:

• Pets in rented homes: Guidance is expanding around the new right to request pets in rented properties, ensuring landlords handle requests reasonably and within designated timeframes.

• Rental data collection: Looking ahead, focus is turning toward the Scottish Government's new information-gathering powers. Local authorities are rolling out enhanced data-reporting frameworks to collect precise rent and tenancy details, backing future rent control decisions with reliable evidence.

Preparing for what's next

Model tenancy agreements, easy-read guidance, and statutory terms supporting notes are being updated by the Scottish Government to reflect the new legislation and will be accessible via Mygov.scot and Gov.scot.

With more changes, like new joint tenancy rules already planned for 1 April 2027, landlords and agents should check their property portfolios, look over their maintenance processes, and keep up to date.