The main changes for Scottish landlords come in four stages: 1 April 2026 (rent data collection), 1 May 2026 (no discrimination against tenants with children or on benefits), 6 October 2026 (damp and mould repair timescales and higher wrongful termination damages) and 1 April 2027 (rent increase reviews and joint tenancies).
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. If you manage your own tenancy and would rather not track every date yourself, our Already Tenanted service takes over the day-to-day running of it.
1 April and 1 May 2026: rent data and discrimination rules
The key dates are 1 April 2026, 1 May 2026, 6 October 2026 and 1 April 2027, as set out on the Scottish Government’s private renting page. 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.
6 October 2026: damp and mould, succession and wrongful termination
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 Scottish Government’s guidance on housing standards in private rented homes covers the detail, and our article on Scotland’s new damp and mould deadlines explains what they mean in practice.
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. We look at how to avoid that in ending a tenancy in Scotland from 6 October.
1 April 2027: rent increase reviews and joint tenancies
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 Scottish Government summarises these under tenant rights and protections.
Our guide to increasing the rent for an existing tenant explains how to set the right figure before then.
What landlords should do now
In practice, landlords need more than the headlines. 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.
This article reflects the general position in Scotland in March 2026. It isn’t legal advice.
Managing a tenancy yourself?
Our Already Tenanted package takes over your existing tenancy without disturbing your tenant, for 6% per month including VAT. You stay informed while we handle the repairs, certificates and paperwork.