Agents urged to prepare as new Scottish rental laws go live today
Summary
New Scottish rental regulations have come into force, introducing tighter duties for landlords and letting agents on damp and mould, changes to tenancy succession rules, and higher financial penalties for wrongful termination of a Private Residential Tenancy. Industry bodies are urging agents to ensure their compliance processes, record-keeping and contractor arrangements are ready for the new requirements.
Why it matters
Residential property surveyors involved in rental property condition, compliance or management need to understand the new statutory response times and evidential expectations around damp and mould. The changes also affect tenancy risk, landlord advice and the handling of property defects where health and safety concerns may arise.
Key points
- Landlords must have damp and mould reports investigated by a competent person within 10 working days.
- A written summary of the investigation must be provided to the tenant within three working days of completion.
- Where substantial damp or mould is found, remedial work must start within five working days and finish as soon as reasonably practicable.
- The qualifying period for tenancy succession after a tenant’s death will reduce from 12 months to six months for relevant tenancies where death occurs on or after 6 October 2026.
- Wrongful termination awards for tenants leaving on or after 6 October 2026 may rise to between three and 36 times the relevant sum.
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