News archives
New video guide to sanctions checks
Since 14 May 2025 letting agents have been required to carry out financial sanctions checks on landlords and tenants when setting up a new tenancy. The government body which oversees this duty, OFSI, has now published a video guide to checking landlord and tenant...
SAL in the media
Catch up on the latest news items where SAL has been featured: 06/06/25 – Property 118 – Scottish Housing Bill passes stage two as rent cap amendment approved 05/06/25 – Landlord ZONE – Scotland moves closer to inflation-linked rent controls in...
New minimum EPC proposals
The Scottish Government has published a consultation and draft regulations to introduce a minimum energy efficiency standard (MEES) in the PRS in Scotland. This is the 7th consultation in just over 8 years relating to energy efficiency in the PRS in Scotland. The...
Housing (Scotland) Bill update
The Housing (Scotland) Bill, which was first published in March 2024, is due to complete stage two of the parliamentary process next week. The Bill contains a number of provisions which would make changes to the Private Rented Sector (PRS) including long-term rent...
Buy-to-let market update – May 2025
By Doug Hall, director, 3mc Welcome to ‘Buy-to-let market’, a column aimed at providing you with recent criteria and product updates within the buy-to-let (BTL) lending markets. The information within this article is correct as at 28/05/2025. Buy-to-let market update:...
SAL meets with Housing Convener of the City of Edinburgh Council
As well as supporting Scotland’s landlords and letting agents, SAL aims to promote the wider interests of the private rented sector in our local communities. Working with local authorities throughout Scotland helps us get the message across to those in power about...
HMRC advice on filing your Self Assessment tax return
Avoid those January blues by filing that Self Assessment tax return now instead HMRC has discovered that many people wait until the last minute to file their Self Assessment tax returns because they have busy lifestyles and are ‘putting it off.’ The deadline to file...
Cyber security in the workplace: essential practices for letting agents
Landlord focus article Issue 48 In the digital era, cyber security is an integral and critical part of protecting sensitive information and maintaining trust across our client base. As agents we are entrusted with managing sensitive information, including personal...
Empty homes given a new lease of life
Landlord Focus article, Issue 48 Some 93,000 properties are abandoned and derelict across Scotland, but many ‘hidden gems’ are being turned from drab into fab rentals. With an estimated 93,000 properties sitting abandoned and derelict across Scotland, Homes Under The...
Homes for life
Landlord Focus article, Issue 50 Scottish Housing Day 2024 examined how best to future proof homes to help people in later life In September 2024, Scottish Housing Day focused on Homes for Life and encouraged people to think about how the housing sector can better...