News archives
Robust referencing – lessons from a lucky escape
From Landlord Focus magazine article – Autumn edition 2024 It is important to take your time and carry out all necessary checks when choosing a new tenant. Making the wrong decision can be a costly move One SAL member had a close call in May of this year after...
SAL in the media
Read the latest articles where SAL is featured in the media: 8 March 2025 – The Herald – Holyrood to consider permanent ban on winter evictions 7 March 2025 – The Scottish Daily Express – Scotland’s housing crisis has been made worse by...
New financial sanctions reporting requirements
As we previously reported in our member enews on 19 December 2024, letting agents will have to comply with new financial sanctions requirements from 14 May 2025. From that date, all letting agents in the UK must submit a report to the Office of Financial Sanctions...
Advice line top queries: ending a tenancy
The SAL advice team receive over 300 queries each week on a wide range of topics. The most common advice topic is how to end a tenancy, with just over a third of all enquiries to the helpline requiring assistance with this. Advice is often sought on how to give notice...
Check detector expiry dates
Landlords and letting agents are reminded to ensure they check the expiry dates of smoke, heat and carbon monoxide detectors in their rental properties and replace detectors on or before the expiry date. We previously heard from a member whose expired carbon monoxide...
Rent increase notice template
A few members have asked if any of the rent increase notice templates will change as a result of the government ending the remaining restrictions on rent increases at the end of March. SAL has checked with the government and been advised that it will not be making any...
Private renting in Aberdeenshire
Message from Aberdeenshire Council: To encourage more people to consider renting privately as a housing option, we are keen to make sure as many landlords as possible are aware that Aberdeenshire Council can assist with advertising any vacant property via the...
Is your lead testing lab UKAS accredited?
Since 1 March 2024 the Repairing Standard legislation has required landlords to ensure their rental properties are free of lead pipes from the boundary stopcock to the kitchen tap. If the landlord is uncertain about whether their property contains lead pipes then a...
SAL in the media
Read the latest articles SAL has featured in over to in the last week: 12 February 2025 – Property 118 – Green Party claims rent controls will solve London’s housing crisis 8 February 2025 – Landlord Today – Political pressure driving...
SAL gives evidence to parliament on Housing (Scotland) Bill
SAL has given evidence to parliament as part of its stage 1 scrutiny of the Housing (Scotland) Bill. SAL chief executive John Blackwood has taken part in two oral evidence sessions before the Local Government, Housing & Planning Committee. A coalition of...