Housing (Scotland) Act 2025

Changes to Scottish Housing Law – Update for Tenants

Some changes to Scottish Housing Law come into force on 1 August 2026. These affect Scottish Secure Tenancies and Short Scottish Secure Tenancies.

Domestic Abuse and Tenant Rights

From 1 August 2026, social landlord will have new powers. In certain circumstances, this includes:

• Asking the court to end the tenancy rights of someone who has behaved abusively.
• Transferring the tenancy to the person affected by domestic abuse.

This is intended to help victims of domestic abuse to remain safely in their home where it is appropriate to do so.

Succession Rights

Some rules about who may take over a tenancy after a tenant dies are changing. From 1 August 2026, this means:

• If a tenant dies, another member of the household can take over the tenancy.
• The residence period is changing from 12 months to 6 months in some cases.

If you are unsure or would like any further information on this, please contact us and we can provide you with information based on your specific circumstances.

Rent Increase Notices

The rules on how rent increase notices can be given are being updated. From 1 August 2026, this means:

• In certain circumstances, rent increase notices may be sent by email.

For most existing tenants, there is nothing you need to do just now. Your current tenancy agreement will not usually be replaced simply because of these changes, but your rights and responsibilities may be affected by the law.

We will contact tenants directly if anything affects them personally. If you have any questions, or need support, please contact us at enquiries@almondha.org.uk.