Housing Reform in Scotland: Everything you need to know about the Housing (Scotland) Bill

Following its approval by the Scottish Parliament on 30 September 2025, the Housing (Scotland) Bill is now on its way to becoming law. This is important news for many people in Scotland as it pertains to major reforms in rent control, homelessness prevention, and tenant rights.

Scotland has been facing a housing crisis, with a national housing emergency announced in 2024. The Housing (Scotland) Bill was introduced by the Scottish Government in March 2024 in response to growing concerns about housing affordability, homelessness, and tenant safety. The Bill aims to tackle some of these challenges head-on, aiming to create a fairer, safer, and more stable housing system, including through making rent fairer.

Let's examine some of these key topics in a bit more detail.

Introducing long-term rent control

In an effort to maintain housing affordability, long-term rent controls will be introduced, allowing local authorities to designate Rent Control Areas.

• An annual rent increased cap will be introduced.
• The bill defines this as CPI + 1% (max 6%).
• These rent caps would apply both within and between tenancies, with exemptions only for mid-market rent, build-to-rent, and student accommodation.

This new framework marks a historic shift from temporary crisis-driven controls (relating to the emergency rent controls introduced between 2022-2024) to a structured, long-term policy. It reflects growing political will to address affordability and tenant security, while attempting to balance concerns about housing investment and supply.

Increased tenants' rights

The Bill introduces a suite of new rights and protections for tenants, aimed at growing concerns about affordability, housing quality and tenant autonomy. Under the bill, tenants now have:

• The legal right to request permission to keep a pet. Landlords must respond within 14 days and silence is considered consent.
• Tenants can now request to decorate or make reasonable alterations to their rented property.
• The Bill updates how damages for unlawful eviction are calculated, making it easier for tenants to seek redress.
• Tenants now have 30 days (up from 21) to request a rent adjudication if they believe a proposed rent increase is unfair.
• A single joint tenant can now end a joint tenancy without requiring agreement from all parties.

Homelessness Prevention

Homelessness is a key feature of Housing (Scotland) Bill, and it outlines a commitment to preventing homelessness before it happens. The legislation introduces a proactive, coordinated system designed to identify and support individuals at risk—long before they reach crisis point.

In an effort to curb homelessness, public bodies must intervene as early as possible, with a duty to “Ask and Act”, with support offered 6 months before homelessness is likely.

Awaab’s Law

The Bill also includes provisions to implement Awaab’s Law across Scotland’s rented sector, both social and private. The law will:

• Require landlords to promptly investigate and fix health hazards, starting with damp and mould.
• Set legal timeframes for repairs, to be defined in secondary legislation.
• Empower tenants to hold landlords accountable through clearer rights and enforcement mechanisms.

What Happens Next?

Following its approval by the Scottish Parliament, the Bill is now on its way to becoming law. The next formal step is Royal Assent, which is expected to take place in late 2025, likely by November or December.

Once Royal Assent is granted, the Bill will officially become the Housing (Scotland) Act 2025.

Secondary legislation will be introduced to define how the Act’s provisions will operate in practice.

Local authorities are set to define Rent Control Areas by May 2027.

What This Means for You

For Tenants

More security, better housing standards, and rent predictability.

For Landlords

Long awaited clarity on rent control plans, although further information is needed on where rent controls will apply.