What this guide is
This guide is for private tenants – people who rent their home from a private landlord, not the council.
We have separate information for people living in council housing.
Before you start renting
Landlord registration
To check that someone is a registered landlord, you can either:
- search for their name on the Scottish Landlord Register website
- search for their name on the Landlord Accreditation Scotland website
- phone us on 0300 300 0300 and ask us.
If you’ve checked these sources and you’re still not sure that a landlord is registered, we recommend that you do not rent a property from them.
Your rights
Learn what your rights are as a private tenant (Scottish Government website), including rights about:
- rent increases
- the rent adjudication process (you can ask for an independent review if you think your rent increase is unreasonable)
- repairs and maintenance
- eviction rights.
Tenancy agreement
Your landlord must give you a tenancy agreement when you move into your rental home.
Tenancy agreements list certain information, rights, and responsibilities between you and your landlord, such as:
- your name
- your landlord’s name
- the address of the property you’ll be renting
- the date the tenancy began
- whether other people are allowed to use the property
- how much rent you’ll need to pay, when to pay it, and how to pay it
- how often and when your rent can increase
- who will pay the council tax and utility bills
- whether your landlord will provide any additional services
- how much notice you and your landlord must give before one of you can end the tenancy.
Learn more about tenancy agreements (Citizens Advice Scotland website).
Council tax
Tell us about a change of address for council tax 2 weeks before you move into your new home.
When you’re moving in
Inventory
Your landlord may give you an inventory, which is a list of all items that were in the property when you started renting.
If your landlord does not provide an inventory, we recommend that you make your own list of these items and give a copy to the landlord when you move in.
Energy performance certificate
An energy performance certificate is a document with information about:
- how energy efficient a building is
- how the efficiency could be improved.
Buildings are rated on a scale from A to G, with A being the most efficient.
Your landlord must give you a free copy of the property’s energy performance certificate when you move in. It should match the one they used when advertising the property.
Learn more about energy performance certificates (Scottish Government website).
Once you’re living in the property
Repairs and maintenance
Your landlord is responsible for any repairs needed to make sure your home meets all legal standards, called the ‘Repairing Standard’. This includes things such as making sure the property:
- meets the ‘Tolerable Standard’, which is a basic habitability standard that all properties in Scotland must meet to ensure they are suitable for people to live in
- is wind- and watertight
- is structurally sound
- has a satisfactory food storage area and food preparation space
- has no appliances or other fittings in disrepair (anything provided must be in good working order).
Learn more about the Repairing Standard (Scottish Government website).
Your landlord must also arrange annual gas safety checks on gas appliances and check any electrical equipment in the property.
You should tell your landlord if you need something repaired. We recommend you do this in writing – for example, by email.
You need to give your landlord reasonable access to the property so they can do the repairs.
If your landlord will not do essential repairs, you can make a complaint to the Housing and Property Chamber.
Damages
You must pay for any damages you cause to the property.
You must replace any of the items in the inventory that become lost or broken during your tenancy.
If you’re planning on moving out
You must give your landlord at least 28 days' notice in writing if you want to end your tenancy, unless you ask for shorter notice and they agree in writing.
The notice period will begin on the day your landlord gets your notice and will end 28 days after that date.
You and your landlord can agree a different notice period, but this must be in writing and can only be done once you’ve started to live in the property.
Your landlord cannot require you to give a longer notice period than 28 days.
Learn more about ending your tenancy (Scottish Government website).
Evictions
Your landlord can only evict you (end your tenancy and make you move out) for specific reasons. These are called ‘grounds for eviction’.
Learn about grounds for eviction (Scottish Government website).
Your landlord should give you a ‘notice to leave’ to evict you. This is a legal document that includes:
- that you must leave the property
- the reason they’re asking you to leave (the ground for eviction)
- your notice period (how long you have until you must move out).
Learn what to do if you think you’re being illegally evicted (Shelter Scotland website).