"This research shows many landlords who are trying to do the right thing are struggling to navigate what has become an increasingly complex and fragmented system"
- Dr Jennifer Harris - SafeDeposits Scotland
Scottish landlords are struggling to keep up with rapidly changing regulations because of fragmented and inconsistent information from the Scottish Government and local authorities, according to new research commissioned by the SafeDeposits Scotland Charitable Trust.
The study, based on interviews with landlords across Scotland, found many are piecing together their understanding of legal obligations from a confusing mix of government websites, council guidance, newsletters, online forums, and word of mouth.
One landlord interviewed for the report described the problem directly: "I think they change all the time and there's no one place that gets clearly communicated." Another said: "All the information I was looking for online turned out to be out of date, frankly wrong, even on the Government website."
The findings build on the Trust's 2025 Voice of the Landlord Survey, which painted a similarly troubling picture of Scottish landlord compliance. Just 41% of landlords felt able to keep up with changes affecting the sector, down from 51% in 2024. Only 21% believed changes to the law were clearly communicated, and one in four smaller landlords said they could not keep up with legal changes at all.
Despite this, the research found that most landlords wanted to comply and viewed themselves as responsible housing providers. Many were more motivated by a desire to provide safe homes for tenants than by fear of penalties. The barriers they faced were practical: unclear guidance, complex rules, rising costs, and difficulties finding tradespeople to carry out required work.
Several other patterns emerged from the research. Many landlords rely on passive updates such as emails or media coverage, creating a false sense of confidence around compliance.
Difficulties sourcing reliable contractors are causing delays to repairs, inspections, and safety checks. And despite being registered within Scotland's landlord registration system, many reported little or no direct communication from their local authority.
The research comes ahead of significant further reform, with proposed rent controls and new energy efficiency standards still to work through. More than 330,000 households in Scotland currently live in the private rented sector.
"Providing homes in the private rented sector is a significant responsibility, and landlords should have the support and clarity needed to meet the standards that are rightly expected of them," said Dr Jennifer Harris, head of policy at SafeDeposits Scotland.
"However, this research shows many landlords who are trying to do the right thing are struggling to navigate what has become an increasingly complex and fragmented system.
"Too often, landlords are piecing together information from multiple sources and hoping they have not missed something important. If reforms to the private rented sector are going to succeed, landlords need clearer communication, simpler systems and more practical support to comply with the rules."
The Trust has put forward five proposals to address the problem: creating a single online hub for all current Scottish private rented sector regulation and guidance; introducing clearer and more proactive communication when rules change; expanding practical compliance tools including templates, checklists, and step-by-step guides; providing targeted financial support to help landlords meet future energy efficiency requirements; and developing approved contractor and tradesperson lists to help landlords complete required works.
