Blog

15 Dec 2016 All Change For 2017

We will be getting a new tenancy regime in Scotland as set out in the Private Housing (Tenancies) (Scotland) Act 2016. This new Private Residential Tenancy (PRT) will replace Short Assured and Assured Tenancies after a specific date going forward.

13 Dec 2016 Levelling of the Playing Field?

Earlier this month a Scottish letting agent pled guilty to an offence under the Consumer Protection from Unfair Trading Regulations 2008. What was perhaps surprising was that the ‘offence’ committed by the letting agents was the failure to lodge deposits with an approved tenancy deposit scheme on behalf one of their landlord clients. In terms […]

06 Dec 2016 Digital signatures for residential leases

Electronic residential leases are becoming more and more common. Can digital signatures be used in Scotland?

30 Nov 2016 European Convention on Human Rights & tenancy rights

Notwithstanding the recent Brexit vote, the European Convention on Human Rights (EHCR) remains part of our law at least for now. Read more.

30 Nov 2016 New Tenant Information Pack

Further to our last blog, it should be noted that there is a new Tenant Information Pack to be used from 1st December 2016. This has been amended to reflect the transfer of functions of the Private Rented Housing Panel to the new First-tier Tribunal. Landlords have a statutory duty under section 30A of the […]

29 Nov 2016 New Forms for use by Landlords and Agents

Many will know that the new First-tier Tribunal: Housing and Property Chamber is due to come into existence on 1st December 2016. The entire functions of the Private Rented Housing Panel will transfer to the First-tier Tribunal from that date and new forms have been published in the First-tier Tribunal for Scotland Housing and Property […]