News archives
New Housing Bill published
The government has today published a Housing Bill to progress plans originally set out in its New Deal for Tenants consultation in 2021. The Bill is proposed legislation which, if approved by MSPs, will become an Act of parliament. Typically it can take around 2 years...
SAL in the media
It’s been a busy week so far for SAL chief executive John Blackwood, following press activity this week around the results of our member surveys which highlighted the number of rental properties being removed from the market . These member surveys were the landord...
First-tier Tribunal confirms COLA rent cap exemption
As members will be aware, the Cost of Living (Tenant Protection) (Scotland) Act 2022 introduced a freeze on most rent increases from 6 September 2022. This was later amended in April 2023 to a cap of 3% on most rent increases. Since this legislation was introduced,...
Eviction moratorium to end on 31/3/24
The government has confirmed that the eviction moratorium will end on 31 March. This means that any landlord who has been granted an eviction order by the tribunal since 30 September 2023 will be able to engage sheriff officers to enforce the eviction in April. ...
Rent increases after 31 March 2024
The Cost of Living (Tenant Protection) Scotland Act 2022, which introduced rent increase caps and the eviction moratorium, will end on 31 March 2024. SAL has been involved in discussions with the government about their plans for rent increases after March. The...
Judicial review finds in favour of the Scottish Government
The Court of Session has today published its decision in the judicial review case raised by SAL and its coalition partners (Scottish Land & Estates and Propertymark) in respect of the Cost of Living (Tenant Protection) (Scotland) Act 2022. The decision has found...
Rental reform questionnaire
On 29 September we emailed members to advise that the Scottish Government had published a paper and response questionnaire setting out proposals for progressing some rental reform measures originally consulted on in 2021. We know many members feel the questionnaire is...
Cost of Living Act: Campaign update
SAL members will be aware that over the last few months we have been running a major campaign against the unfair and discriminatory rent increase freeze and ban on evictions in private lets which were part of last year’s Cost of Living Act. A summary of the...
Extension to rent cap/eviction moratorium announced
The Scottish Government has advised SAL that, subject to the approval of parliament, it will extend the provisions of the Cost of Living (Tenant Protection) (Scotland) Act 2022 to 31 March 2024. This is the legislation which introduced a cap of 3% on most rent...
Edinburgh HMO consultation
The City of Edinburgh has launched a public consultation on the terms of a proposed best practice guide for HMO licence holders and agents. Failure to follow the best practice guide may be relevant to the council’s consideration of whether a landlord or agent is a fit...