New private tenancy laws are now in force that the Government says will give tenants more security and stability whilst also providing better safeguards for landlords, lenders and investors. 

The new Private Residential Tenancy (PRT) will have no end date and can only be terminated by a tenant giving written notice to their landlord or by the landlord using one of 18 grounds for eviction. Tenants will have the right to challenge a wrongful termination.

Landlords can only increase rent once a year and are required to give tenants three months’ written notice of any rise. Tenants can challenge this rise if they think it is unfair.

Landlords will also benefit from a more accessible repossession process and a simplified way to give notice.

“Today represents a new dawn for all private renters in Scotland and these new laws bring unprecedented security of tenure to private renters with landlords now needing a good reason to evict tenants,” commented Graeme Brown, Director of Shelter Scotland.

“We have worked closely with the Scottish Government, tenants groups and charities for a number of years on this new tenancy agreement and believe the final outcome will make life considerably easier for landlords,” said John Blackwood, Chief Executive for Scottish Association of Landlords. “The improved and clarified grounds for eviction, alongside a clearly defined process which we campaigned for will further help streamline the sector.”

“The new clauses will make it easier for landlords to ensure contracts are fully compliant with the law as well as being easier for both them and tenants to understand, hopefully reducing tension and unnecessary disagreements,” he added.

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