Extended lettings notice periods to expire in March 2022

During the height of the Coronavirus COVID-19 pandemic, The Scottish Government made temporary changes to rental legislation which affected the period of notice a landlord was required to give their tenant prior to ending a tenancy. 

The Coronavirus (Scotland) Act 2020 meant that under most circumstances, landlords were required to give tenants at least six months' notice to end a tenancy. This applied to all eviction notices issued on or after 7 April 2020.

Following consultation and discussions with industry members, the Scottish Government has announced its intention to allow these extended eviction notice periods to expire on 30 March 2022.

This means that from 31 March 2022, eviction notice periods will revert to the original requirements in place prior to the pandemic.

The new regulations contain a transitional provision which prevents a landlord who has already served notice to end a tenancy, from serving a new notice on the same grounds for eviction with a shorter notice period after 30 March 2022. A new notice of eviction with a shorter notice period may only be issued if the notice is being served on different grounds for eviction.

If there is a tenancy agreement in place which refers to the longer notice periods under the Coronavirus (Scotland) Act 2020, landlords are still able to serve notice using the shorter notice periods from 31 March 2022 onwards.

You can find out more information from the Scottish Association of Landlords here, or contact ESPC Lettings for insights on how this may affect you.

ESPC Lettings

If you’re interested in entering the buy-to-let market or are a landlord looking for advice, a new letting agent or a full property management service, ESPC Lettings can help. As a letting agent based in Edinburgh, we can assist with all stages of renting out a home, from finding the right property to sourcing tenants to property maintenance.

Get in touch with the team today on landlord@espc.com or 0131 253 2847.