A landlord’s guide to the Housing (Scotland) Act 2025

EPIC
Jun 9
3 min read

The Housing (Scotland) Act 2025 is being rolled out in stages, and if you’re a landlord in Aberdeen city or shire, you need to be in the loop. Here’s a breakdown of what’s already in force, what’s coming next and most importantly – what you need to know to stay compliant.

House-shaped keychain hangs from a door lock on a white door, with blurred interior behind and LPIC watermark in bottom right.

April 2026

Rent Control Framework (Sections 1 – 21)

The governance structure for rent control is now in force. That means local authorities have the powers they need to designate rent control areas – although the direct impact on most landlords is still some time off (local authorities must submit their assessments by 31 May 2027).

How EPIC can help: ✅ staging ✅ property maintenance ✅ project management ✅ independent inventory

EPIC can ensure your property is at its best so you achieve the right tenant at the right price. With a network of trusted tradespeople, we can manage any property maintenance and repairs. Our independent inventories are conducted thoroughly and in case of dispute, are legally binding evidence that can be presented to the court.

October 2026

Awaab’s Law comes to Scotland

From October, private landlords will be held to strict statutory timescales for investigating and repairing damp and mould. The moment a tenant raises an issue, the landlord has:

10 working days to complete an investigation
3 working days to provide the tenant with a written summary of findings
5 working days to begin any required repairs

How EPIC can help: ✅ property maintenance and repairs

We have a solid network of North East plumbers, joiners and damp specialists who we’ve worked with over the years. We won’t waste time scrambling for a contractor and each communication is documented and recorded.

Wrongful termination claims increase

Currently, a landlord who wrongfully ends a tenancy can be ordered to pay up to 6 months’ rent. From October, that becomes a maximum of 36 months – ie £1,000 monthly rent becomes a potential liability of £36,000.

Succession qualifying period reduces

If a tenant dies and a partner, family member or carer has been living at the property for at least 6 months, they now have the right to succeed the tenancy. Until October, this stands at 12 months.

⭐ Coming soon

Pet requests + personalisation rights

Tenants will gain the right to make a written request to keep a pet, and landlords cannot unreasonably refuse. The request must be responded to within one month (and silence counts as consent in this case).

Tenants will also have the right to personalise their home after 6 months of occupancy – paint, shelving, minor alterations etc. They must return the property to its original condition on leaving, unless otherwise agreed.

How EPIC can help: ✅ independent inventory ✅ mid-tenancy reports

Our legally binding independent inventories meticulously record the state of your property before a new tenancy begins, as do our mid-tenancy reports. This protects your assets against any damage or modification discrepancies.

EPIC works to ensure landlords in Aberdeen city and shire stay on the right side of the changes with compliance checks, independent inspections, full documentation and paper trails, property maintenance management and the trade network to back it up.

If any of the above has raised questions about your rental propert/ies, we’re here to help.