Your Complete Compliance Checklist

Being a landlord in Scotland comes with a wide range of legal responsibilities. Staying compliant is essential for protecting your investment, avoiding penalties and ensuring your tenants live in a safe, well‑maintained home.

This compliance checklist brings together everything Scottish landlords must do to meet their legal obligations in 2026. Use it as a reference point to keep your property fully compliant and your tenancy running smoothly.

Landlord Registration

Every landlord in Scotland must be registered with the local authority where their rental property is located. This is a legal requirement under the Antisocial Behaviour etc. (Scotland) Act 2004.

You must:

• Register online via the Scottish Landlord Register
• Renew your registration every three years
• Ensure any joint owners are also registered

Failing to register can result in fines of up to £50,000, so this is one of the most important compliance steps.

Meet the Repairing Standard

The Repairing Standard sets out the minimum condition your property must meet before and during a tenancy.

You must ensure:

• The property is wind‑ and watertight
• The structure and exterior are in good repair
• Heating, water, gas and electrical installations are safe and working
• Smoke and heat alarms are interlinked and compliant
• Carbon monoxide detectors are installed where required
• Fixtures, fittings and appliances are safe

Landlords must also respond promptly to repair requests and keep records of all maintenance.

Gas Safety Compliance

If your property has any gas appliances, you must arrange an annual Gas Safety Check.

You must:

• Use a Gas Safe registered engineer
• Provide tenants with a copy of the Gas Safety Certificate
• Keep records for at least two years

This applies to boilers, gas fires, hobs, and any other gas‑powered appliances.

Electrical Safety Compliance

Electrical safety is a major part of landlord responsibilities in Scotland.

You must:

• Obtain an Electrical Installation Condition Report (EICR) every five years
• Ensure Portable Appliance Testing (PAT) is carried out on any landlord‑provided appliances
• Fix any issues identified in the reports

Electrical safety is strictly enforced, and non‑compliance can lead to Tribunal action.

Fire Safety Requirements

Fire safety standards apply to all private rented homes.

You must install:

• Interlinked smoke alarms in living rooms and hallways
• A heat alarm in the kitchen
• Carbon monoxide alarms near fuel‑burning appliances

Alarms must be either mains‑powered or long‑life sealed battery units.

Energy Performance Certificate (EPC)

Every rental property must have a valid EPC before it is marketed.

You must:

• Provide tenants with a copy
• Display the EPC rating in property adverts
• Renew the certificate every 10 years

While minimum EPC C requirements are not yet enforced, improving energy efficiency is increasingly expected by tenants.

Tenancy Deposit Scheme (TDS)

If you take a deposit, it must be protected in an approved Tenancy Deposit Scheme within 30 working days of the tenancy starting.

You must:

• Lodge the deposit with SafeDeposits Scotland, Letting Protection Scotland, or MyDeposits Scotland
• Provide tenants with prescribed information
• Return the deposit fairly at the end of the tenancy

Failure to comply can result in compensation of up to three times the deposit amount.

Provide a Written Tenancy Agreement

All private tenancies in Scotland must use the Private Residential Tenancy (PRT) model.

You must:

• Provide tenants with a written agreement
• Include all mandatory terms
• Give tenants the “Easy Read Notes” or guidance document

This ensures both parties understand their rights and responsibilities.

Insurance Requirements

While not legally required, landlords should have specialist landlord insurance.

Recommended cover includes:

• Buildings insurance
• Contents insurance (for furnished lets)
• Liability insurance
• Loss of rent cover

Many mortgage lenders require landlord insurance as a condition of borrowing.

Keep Accurate Records

Good record‑keeping protects you in the event of disputes or Tribunal claims.

You should keep:

• Safety certificates
• Repair logs
• Tenancy agreements
• Deposit information
• Correspondence with tenants

This demonstrates compliance and professionalism.

Work With a Professional Letting Agent

A reputable letting agent can manage compliance, inspections, maintenance and tenant communication on your behalf. This is especially useful for landlords with multiple properties or limited time.

Being a landlord in Scotland comes with significant responsibilities, but staying compliant doesn’t have to be overwhelming. With the right systems in place – and a clear checklist to follow – you can protect your investment, meet legal obligations and provide a safe, high‑quality home for your tenants.

Does your property portfolio need managed? We can help. To speak to one of our property experts here at Dwello, you can call us on 0141 357 3579 or you can visit the Landlord section of our website for further information.