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Policy

Private renting

From
Cabinet Secretary for Finance and Local Government
Directorate
Local Government and Housing Directorate
Topic
Housing
Policy actions  1 of 8

Tenant rights and protections

Receiving benefits or renting with children 

The Renters’ Rights Act 2025 makes it an offence to discriminate against tenants with children or who receive benefits. These changes come into effect on 1 May 2026. Read more at: Rental discrimination: guidance for Scotland. 

Succession rights 

The Private Residential Tenancy allows certain members of a household the right to succeed to the tenancy on the death of a tenant if they have lived in the let property for a set period.  

From 6 October 2026, the time a qualifying person must have lived in a property to succeed to a tenancy after the tenant's death reduces from 12 months to 6 months. 

Rent adjudication 

The Housing (Scotland) Act 2025 improves the system for reviewing whether a landlord's proposed rent increase is reasonable. 

From 1 April 2027: 

  • tenants will have up to 30 days to apply for a rent increase review, giving more time to seek advice 

  • when a Rent Officer or First-tier Tribunal sets a rent, it cannot be higher than the increase the landlord originally requested 

Fine out more about: rent increases and the current review process. 

Keeping pets 

The Housing (Scotland) Act 2025 gives private tenants the right to make a written request to keep a pet. Landlords cannot unreasonably refuse. A date for this change coming into force has not been set. Further secondary legislation is required. 

Under the new process: 

  • landlords will have to respond to a request for consent to keep a pet within 30 days 

  • landlords will be able to set reasonable conditions for approval 

  • landlords will have to explain any conditions or reasons for refusal 

  • tenants will be able to challenge an unreasonable refusal or conditions through the First-tier Tribunal (Housing and Property Chamber) 

Reasonable conditions and grounds for refusal will be set out in regulations following further consultation. 

Personalising a rented home 

The Housing (Scotland) Act 2025 gives private tenants greater rights to personalise and decorate their home, after living there for 6 months. A date for this change coming into force has not been set yet. Further secondary legislation is required. 

This is intended to improve the renting experience and support tenants' mental health and wellbeing.  

There are two categories of change: 

  • Category 1: minor changes tenants can make without the landlord's consent, such as putting up posters or pictures 

  • Category 2: larger changes tenants can request, which cannot be unreasonably refused, such as painting walls or putting up shelves 

The specific changes that fall under each category will be set out in regulations following further consultation. 

For Category 2 changes, tenants must have lived in the let property for 6 months. The tenant makes a written request, and landlords must respond within 30 days. Landlords will be able to set reasonable conditions and must explain any refusal. Tenants can challenge an unreasonable refusal or conditions through the First-tier Tribunal (Housing and Property Chamber). 

Frequency of rent increases 

The Housing (Scotland) Act 2025 ensures rents cannot be increased within the first 12 months of a private residential tenancy. No date has been set for this change. 

 

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