Landlord responsibilities in Scotland
When letting in Scotland, there are a number of responsibilities landlords should fulfil.
Your responsibilities
- Make sure you register with the local council in the area where your rental property is located. Find out more about registering your property.
- Give the tenants your name and address.
- Ensure that their deposits are registered with an approved tenancy deposit scheme. Find out more about logging your tenant’s deposits.
- Provide your tenant with a tenancy agreement
- Take action to deal with anti-social behaviour by your tenants in or around your property
- Be able to produce an Energy Performance Certificate to anyone wanting to rent out your property.
- Carry out a Legionella Risk Assessment
- Meet gas, electricity and other safety requirements
Meeting the repairing standards
If you're renting out a property, as the landlord you're responsible for carrying out some repairs. It's your duty to make sure the property meets the repairing standard. This is a basic level of repair that all private rented properties must meet.
The following are required to make sure your rental property meets the repairing standard:
- Making sure the property is wind and watertight
- Suitable fire detection devices are fitted
- Carbon Monoxide Detectors are fitted
- Water, gas and electricity are properly working
- Furnishings can be used safely for the tenants’ required uses
Fire safety
The following a required in rental properties from a fire safety perspective (including single and multiple occupants):
- A smoke alarm installed in the room most frequently used for general daytime living.
- A smoke alarm in every circulation space on each storey, such as hallways and landings
- A heat alarm installed in every kitchen
- All alarms should be ceiling mounted
- All alarms should be interlinked
- Fire blankets should be provided in the kitchen
- Fire extinguishers should be in the hallways
- Fire proof doors should be fitted in the property
Find out more about the requirements for fire and smoke alarms in Scottish homes.
