Scotland has introduced new rules from today covering damp and mould, tenancy succession and wrongful termination in private residential tenancies. The changes place tighter timeframes on investigation and remediation of damp and mould, reduce the qualifying period for succession in certain cases, and increase potential awards for wrongful termination claims from October 2026.
The Right to Rent process has changed, with all digital checks now required to be completed through a registered Digital Verification Service Provider. Checks carried out by non-registered providers will no longer provide statutory defence against civil penalties, and an updated code of practice has also been issued.
The article warns that changes to the UK Right to Work framework now extend civil penalty liability along subcontracting chains, which may affect property agents arranging inspections or maintenance through informal contractor arrangements. It highlights the risk that agents could be exposed where there is no written contract, no verified insurance and no clear record of who attended a property.
Glasgow City Council has refused to renew an HMO licence after inspections found multiple fire safety and maintenance defects at a city-centre flat. The case also indicates that remedial quotes from the lettings agent had previously been rejected by the landlord, despite serious concerns raised by the council and the Scottish Fire and Rescue Service.
Chesterfield council has fined a letting agent a total of £8,652, reduced to £7,354.20 for prompt payment, after finding breaches of the Renters Rights Act 2025. The case involved the use of a six-month fixed-term tenancy agreement and the handling of tenants who indicated they intended to complain, alongside an improvement notice for the property.
A software provider has warned that a significant share of Making Tax Digital for Income Tax products listed by HMRC cannot yet file the final annual tax return, even if they can submit quarterly updates. The article notes that landlords and agents should check software capability carefully, as the tax return function is a key part of compliance and not all products support the full range of income types.
The government has launched a consultation on extending a version of Awaab’s Law to the private rented sector, but many core details remain undecided. The consultation also asks whether the proposed rules should apply to certain licence-based accommodation, including supported housing, temporary accommodation and care leaver accommodation.
Propertymark has issued a new guide for letting agents on handling pet requests in rented homes, with practical advice on fair decision-making, record-keeping and dispute reduction. The article highlights differing rules across the UK, including new tenant rights in England under the Renters’ Rights Act 2025 and pet protections in Scotland under the Housing (Scotland) Act 2025.
Propertymark has said it will engage with government on plans for mandatory regulation of property agents, including licensing and minimum qualifications. The organisation supports the principle of stronger consumer protection, but says key details such as qualification requirements, funding, transition arrangements and the regulator’s relationship with existing redress schemes still need to be clarified.
Propertymark has called for local landlord licensing schemes to be scrapped once the new national Private Rented Sector (PRS) Database is fully operational. It argues that broad discretionary licensing can add cost and administrative burden for compliant landlords and letting agents without delivering better enforcement outcomes.
