At Landlord Broadband, we offer our premium services nationwide. It’s important to us that our customers feel seen, which is why we’re here to offer summarised updates, information, and tips for our Scottish customers.
Housing (Scotland) Bill 2025
The newest Scottish Housing Bill extensively covers protection for tenants. Some key points to notes regarding the Bill and rent are:
- Duties on local authorities to assess rent conditions in their area at least once every 5 years.
- Powers for Scottish Ministers to introduce limits on rent increases.
- Restrictions on rent increases at the start of a tenancy.
- Limits on how rent can increase during a tenancy.
Section 1 of the Bill establishes the framework for introducing Rent Control Areas (RCAs) in Scotland, meaning local councils can now apply for rent pressure zones to limit rent increases. This will significantly reshape how private landlords will set and raise rents, and it’s important to note that if your rental property is in an RCA, there is a maximum increase of consumer price index (CPI) + 1%. This is capped at 6% annually and applies to both in-tenancy increases and between-tenancy increases. You may also be required to register rent levels with your local authority, and breaches of the cap may subject landlords to penalties.
As the Housing (Scotland) Bill 2025 is currently at Stage 2, we can expect RCAs to appear from late 2026 or 2027. This gives landlords plenty of time to track rent levels, plan for capped income, and stay in the loop with local council assessments. We also recommend joining a landlord body – such as the Scottish Association of Landlords – as a way of keeping yourself supported and updated.
Section 2 of the Bill gives tenants in a Private Residential Tenancy (PRT) the right to apply to a Rent Officer for a formal review of their rent. This is called a Fair Open Market Rent determination, and tenants can apply at any time once they’ve received a rent increase notice. A Rent Officer might consider the following conditions when setting a Fair Open Market Rent determination:
- Poor energy efficiency.
- Inadequate internal furnishings.
- General state of repair.
- Maintenance or habitability issues.
It’s important to note that Rent Officers are limited in their power – they can only confirm, adjust downward, or deny increases. They cannot award rent higher than a landlord’s proposed increase.
Although this continues to boost tenant power, and a successful application may require a rent reduction, there are ways that landlords can prepare for this part of the Bill. We suggest proactively maintaining records of EPC ratings, repair history, documentation of improvements, and condition inventories. Under these circumstances, equipping yourself with evidence is paramount if tenants refer matters to Rent Service Scotland.
Other sections of the Housing (Scotland) Bill 2025 include tenants’ personalisation rights, other tenancy provisions, homelessness prevention, miscellaneous housing matters, and commencement and ancillary clauses. Below, we have provided a link with more in-depth information on these sections of the Bill.
https://www.parliament.scot/bills-and-laws/bills/s6/housing-scotland-bill-session-6
National Standard for Rental Properties in Scotland – Some Key Details
The National Standard for Rental Properties is part of the Scottish Government’s ongoing effort to improve the quality of private rented accommodation across the country. This includes a focus on energy efficiency, tenant safety, and property maintenance. The goal is to create a rental sector that is more sustainable, comfortable, and affordable for tenants, while also ensuring that landlords maintain their properties to a high standard.
One of the most important aspects of these new standards is the energy performance of rental properties. As part of the Scottish Government’s climate change commitments, there is a strong push for all rental properties to meet higher energy efficiency standards. From this year, all rented properties in Scotland will need to achieve a minimum Energy Performance Certificate (EPC) rating of C. EPC ratings measure how energy-efficient a property is, ranging from A (most efficient) to G (least efficient).
Currently, many rental properties may fall below this threshold, especially if they’re older or poorly insulated. If your rental property is rated below a C, you will be required to upgrade it to meet this minimum standard. Failure to do so could result in your property being unfit for rental, therefore paying close attention to your property’s energy efficiency is imperative over the course of the year.
As expected, the National Standard for Rental Properties will have an impact on Scottish landlords. These impacts include:
1. Upfront costs for upgrades – such as insulation, windows and doors, heating systems, and air tightness.
2. Potential funding and grants – for example, energy efficiency grants and green finance.
3. Risks of non-compliance – if your property is below an EPC rating of C. The deadline for this was the 31st of March, however maintaining a high rating avoids fines, penalties, and the inability to rent out your property.
4. Long-term value increase – despite the initial upgrade costs can be high, there are longer-term benefits to improving the energy performance of your property.
An energy-efficient home is more likely to attract tenants who are concerned about utility costs and climate change. This could improve your tenant retention rates. With a higher EPC rating, you may be able to justify higher rents for homes that are more sustainable and cheaper to run. Plus, as sustainability becomes more of a focus, properties with green features (e.g., heat pumps, solar panels, energy-efficient appliances) may increase in market value!
Overall, staying informed with changes to energy standards and potential policy updates from the Scottish Government will help you avoid surprises. To aid this, we have provided some links below that will direct you to some useful websites that will keep you in the loop. The next section of this blog also offers some ways to help you both comply with the National Standard for Rental Properties in Scotland and keep your property safe over autumn and winter.
Preparing for the Colder Months
With the sun shining high this summer, it can be easy to forget that autumn and winter are only a few months away. To keep yourself protected and your tenants happy, we want to remind you of ways that you as landlords can prepare for the colder period in Scotland. In this section, we’ll be covering proper insulation, heating systems, and condensation prevention.
Firstly, loft insulation is a great way avoiding condensation and damp issues. We suggest ensuring at least 270mm of insulation is installed. If the loft space is accessible, check for any gaps or signs of compression.
Cavity wall insulation is another way to keep the heat in, and older homes in Scotland may not have this. Getting a survey to see if retrofitting is worthwhile is a great solution to a potential problem over winter.
We also recommend hot water tank jackets as a quick way to prevent heat loss and improve efficiency, as well as sealing any gaps around windows, doors, and letterboxes.
Finally, double glazing is a must. Consider upgrading windows if you haven’t already, as this is a great way to lower heating costs on bitter days. For a short-term fix, temporary film insulation kits are cheap and readily available from a range of suppliers online – but nothing beats the real thing!
Arranging a Gas Safe engineer to inspect the boiler and ensure a valid Gas Safety Certificate is issued prevents you from ant legal repercussions should anything go wrong. Additionally, bleeding radiators to remove any trapped air further confirms that heat is evenly distributed throughout your property.
We also suggest that you check that thermostat and timer settings are working and set for optimal use. This is particularly important if your property is empty over winter, as it may be more susceptible to cold-related damage.
Ensuring that your heating and insulation systems are all up to date can decrease the chances of unhappy tenants throughout autumn and winter. By preparing your properties now, you’ll have less to think about throughout the colder months. We know that problems can arise at any point, particularly with average temperatures ranging from 2 to 6°C during winter in Scotland. Protecting your properties ensures your own protection from complaints and legal action!
Boosting Property Appeal with Wi-Fi
We know that with all of the changes happening within the industry, reaping the rewards of adjusting your properties is an important aspect. But reaping these rewards requires property appeal – this is where great broadband can help!
Letting Agent Today suggests that 55% of tenants are more likely to rent a property if bills are included in the price of their rent, and a study from Wise Living highlights that a staggering 85% of tenants demand instant connectivity. Although not a requirement for rental properties in Scotland, it’s no surprise that tenants are willing to pay a higher price if Wi-Fi is available. After all, working from home is a new norm, and students are left stranded without the internet.
What’s more, the introduction of the Housing (Scotland) Bill 2025 requires a lot of preparation and potential renovation to rental properties, meaning costs to landlords will undoubtably increase. By installing your properties with great broadband, increasing rent is both justifiable and beneficial to you and the tenant. We suggest advertising fast broadband as a key selling point, along with any other bills that might be included with your property.
Our Scottish customers are an important part of our business, and we pride ourselves on providing you with the best services possible. Staying connected within the landlord community is more important now than ever, so if you’re currently looking for broadband that won’t let you down, have a browse of our website and get in touch. Click the link below to get started!
https://www.landlordbroadband.com/portfolio-assessment/#assessment