Scottish landlords should be careful not to treat the current changes as one single event. They are being brought in in phases, and that matters.
The key dates are 1 April 2026, 1 May 2026, 6 October 2026 and 1 April 2027. From 1 April 2026, local authorities and Scottish Ministers gained powers to collect rent information. From 1 May 2026, new Scotland-specific anti-discrimination provisions linked to children and benefits status came into force under the Renters’ Rights Act 2025.
From 6 October 2026, Awaab’s Law begins in Scotland for damp and mould, bringing duties on landlords to investigate reports and start any required repairs within set timescales. The same phase also includes changes to succession and increased damages for wrongful termination. Guidance says damages for unlawful eviction will be set between 3 and 36 times the monthly rent.
From 1 April 2027, the rent adjudication timetable changes, giving tenants 30 days to apply for a review of a proposed rent increase. The amount determined by the Rent Officer or Tribunal also cannot be set above the amount proposed by the landlord. An additional process for ending a joint tenancy also comes into force from that date.
The practical point is simple. This is not the moment for landlords to skim a headline and assume they have the gist of it. The dates, the detail and the sequencing matter. A landlord who is broadly aware but not operationally prepared is usually the one most likely to be caught out.
Official sources and further reading:
- Scottish Government – Private renting
- Scottish Government – Tenant rights and protections
- Scottish Government – Housing standards in private rented homes
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