News archives
How to avoid the usual 31 January Self Assessment deadline panic
By GoSimpleTax You have left sorting out your Self Assessment tax return until far too late, despite promising yourself that you wouldn’t ever let it happen again. The online filing deadline, which is midnight on 31 January, is now fast approaching and you’re...
Cannabis farm warning
A letting agent member based in South Lanarkshire has asked that we warn all members to be vigilant as there have been a number of cases in the area involving criminal activity relating to large scale cannabis farming. Unfortunately one of the agent’s...
Letting agent business and market survey
In December 2024, SAL conducted a survey of its letting agent members to find out how their businesses were faring in the current climate. The headline findings from the survey are that agents are managing to maintain their portfolio sizes despite many landlords...
Landlord portfolio and investment survey
In December 2024, SAL conducted a survey of its landlord members to find out about their rental property portfolios, investment plans and experiences of increasing rents. Many of the survey questions were repeats of questions asked in previous surveys in December 2022...
New financial sanctions reporting requirements
From 14 May 2025, all letting agents in the UK must submit a report to the Office of Financial Sanctions Implementation (OFSI) (part of HM Treasury) if, in the course of their business, they become aware or have reasonable cause to suspect that a person (i) is a...
SAL in the media
Following on from the announcements made as part of the Scottish Budget on 4 December 2024, follow here for the latest articles featuring SAL: 6 December 2024 – The Negotiator – Scottish Budget under fire for hitting landlords 6 December 2024 –...
Scottish Budget – 2% increase in ADS
In a further attack on the private rented sector, the Scottish Government announced yesterday that the Additional Dwelling Supplement (ADS) will increase from 6% to 8% with effect from today. The ADS is an additional charge which is added to any Land and Buildings...
Buy-to-let market update – December 2024
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 29/11/2024. Buy-to-let market update:...
Housing (Scotland) Bill passes stage 1
The Housing (Scotland) Bill, published in March, has passed the first stage of its progress through parliament. The Bill seeks to introduce long-term rent controls which would apply within rent control areas designated by the government. It also seeks to introduce...
SAL in the media
It has been a busy time for SAL in the media this week. Please find links below to articles of interest in the media over the last week: 27/11/2024 Landlord Today – At last – a politician who thinks landlords ARE ‘working people’ 26/11/2024 The...