Rental market resilient ahead of lettings agency rules changes

A report into the Scottish rental market by Your Move says letting agents north of the border are already preparing for a significant tenancy rule change coming into effect in December.

All tenancies which commence from that month will be open-ended, meaning, of course, that landlords will not be able to ask a tenant to leave after a fixed period. 

This is intended to provide a more stable environment for tenants, but also sets out specific circumstances in which landlords can remove problem tenants from their properties. 

In 2018 the Letting Agent Code of Practice comes in to effect, with provisions to allow agents to handle money received from both tenants and landlords. 

Your Move’s report also looks at Scotland’s average monthly rent which has shown a one per cent monthly rise to stand at £575. 

The Edinburgh and Lothians region is home to the highest rents in Scotland, with prices in the capital city and surrounding areas outstripping the rest of the nation. 

Your Move Scotland found the average rent in the region was £662 per month during July, well above the second most expensive area - the Highlands and Islands, which saw average rents of £604. 

At the other end of the scale, the East of Scotland continues to be the cheapest place to rent in the country. Despite containing a wide range of property types and housing the UK’s oil capital Aberdeen, the typical rent here is £541 per month.