Is there a minimum EPC rating for Scottish rental properties?

No. There is no minimum EPC rating currently in force in Scotland. The 2020 draft was withdrawn and the October 2026 commencement was pulled on 17 March 2026. The next live consultation is for C-by-2028, which may or may not harden into law. Landlords planning insulation work should treat the C-by-2028 consultation as a hypothesis, not a settled deadline.

Do Scottish landlords need a Legionella risk assessment?

Yes. Since March 2024, Legionella risk assessments are mandatory for all Scottish private rental properties under the amended Repairing Standard. The assessment should be reviewed every 2 years or when circumstances change (e.g. property has been empty, water system altered).

LARN stands for Landlord Registration Number. All Scottish landlords must register with their local council under the Antisocial Behaviour etc. (Scotland) Act 2004 and renew every 3 years. Operating without a current LARN can result in a fine of up to £50,000.

How long do I have to lodge a tenant's deposit in Scotland?

30 working days from the start of the tenancy. The deposit must be lodged in one of three approved Scottish schemes: SafeDeposits Scotland, mydeposits Scotland, or Letting Protection Service (LPS) Scotland. You must also serve the prescribed information to the tenant separately within the same window — lodging alone is not enough.

What is the difference between PRT and AST?

PRT (Private Residential Tenancy) is the Scottish private tenancy regime introduced on 1 December 2017 under the Private Housing (Tenancies) (Scotland) Act 2016. AST (Assured Shorthold Tenancy) is the English equivalent and does not exist in Scotland. All new Scottish tenancies since December 2017 must be PRTs. The PRT is open-ended with 18 prescribed eviction grounds.

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