The Housing (Scotland) Act 2025 introduced a framework for rent control areas in Scotland. This briefing covers the current status, the assessment process, and what landlords with Scottish properties need to know.
Scotland: rent control framework in place, areas not yet designated
The Housing (Scotland) Act 2025 received Royal Assent and introduced the legal framework for rent control areas in Scotland. However, as of April 2026, no rent control areas have been formally designated. The framework is in place; the application of controls depends on local authority assessments that have not yet been completed.
How rent control areas work
Under the Act, local authorities may apply to Scottish Ministers to designate an area as a rent control area. The application must be supported by evidence that rents in the area are causing problems such as homelessness, displacement, or housing unaffordability.
Once designated, rent increases within a rent control area are capped at a percentage set by Scottish Ministers. The cap applies to in-tenancy increases and between-tenancy increases.
Properties in rent control areas must register rents on the Scottish Landlord Register. Tenants have the right to refer above-cap increases to a Rent Officer.
Current status
No local authority has yet submitted a completed assessment to Scottish Ministers. The assessment guidance was published in early 2026 and local authorities are expected to complete assessments during 2026 and into 2027.
The Scottish Parliament election in May 2026 has created uncertainty around the timeline. A new Cabinet has not yet been formed and no further commencement orders under the Housing (Scotland) Act 2025 are expected until the new government is constituted.
What Scottish landlords should do now
- Register on the Scottish Landlord Register if not already registered. Registration is a legal requirement for all private landlords in Scotland.
- Monitor your local authority's housing strategy — councils are required to publish their assessment findings. This will indicate whether a rent control designation is likely in your area.
- Review your current rent levels relative to local market rents. If a rent control area is designated, in-tenancy increases will be restricted. Landlords who have not reviewed rents recently may wish to do so before any designation takes effect.
The Cost of Living provisions have ended
The emergency rent freeze and cap measures introduced under the Cost of Living (Tenant Protection) (Scotland) Act 2022 expired on 31 March 2024. Those temporary measures no longer apply. The Housing (Scotland) Act 2025 framework is the permanent replacement.
Landlord Insights — landlordinsights.co.uk — Sourced from gov.scot and legislation.gov.uk. Not legal advice.
This content is for general informational purposes only and does not constitute legal, financial, or professional advice. Always verify information against the original source and seek independent professional guidance before acting on any regulatory matter.