Key Findings

• Residential investment has proven to be an attractive proposition in recent years as rising demand has driven rents and yields higher.

• However, legislative and regulatory changes are going to prove to be a challenge to this sector (for small and large investors alike), especially tax changes and the start of the new PRT on 1 December. All investors should take professional advice on their portfolios to manage the new risks.

• The Scottish private residential sector is now in a very different place from the rest of the UK and the likes of institutional Build to Rent sector needs to be aware of this.

• The Scottish Government remains keen to attract private sector investment into real estate in Scotland and the new Rental Income Guarantee Scheme (RIGS) is part of this drive. Rettie have just been appointed to the Property Advisor Framework to advise the Scottish Government and the Scottish Futures Trust on the application of RIGS for specific BTR schemes.