An interesting entry on PropertyHawk’s blog this morning about changes to the private rented sector tenancy system in Scotland.  Full details of what the Scottish Parliament is proposing can be found here, but in summary:

• No more ‘no-fault’ repossessions, i.e. you can’t simply ask a tenant to leave because their tenancy has ended.
• Tenancies will not roll over.  At the moment, when a Short Assured Tenancy expires, the tenancy simply continues on a month-to-month basis if a new one isn’t signed.
• Notice to Quit will be 4 weeks if the tenant has been in the property fewer than six months, 12 weeks if more than six months (changed from 28-40 days currently).  Notice to Quit on the tenant’s side is also 4 weeks up to six months, but only 8 weeks for longer.

They’re also planning to introduce a model tenancy agreement.

Rents up here aren’t hugely expensive, but one thing that snuck into Nicola Sturgeon’s speech on this yesterday that will probably send a shiver down the spine of landlords further south in Scotland was:  “I can also announce today that the Bill will include provisions for rent controls in rent pressure areas.”

It’ll be interesting to see what the eventual legislation looks like and how it affects the rental market across the country.