The Rettie Blog

Have you spotted the latest edition of Market & home?

Significant changes are on the horizon for owners of long-term empty properties in Edinburgh. From 1 January 2027, the City of Edinburgh Council will introduce a substantial increase to the Council Tax premium applied to qualifying empty homes, creating a significant additional cost for many property owners. If you own a property that is vacant for part or all of the year, it's important to understand how these changes may affect you and what options are available to reduce their impact.

Welcome to the Autumn/Winter 2026 edition of Prestige Scotland, where we share with you our latest collection of some of the best luxury living Scotland has to offer. As ever we're delighted to showcase a number of beautiful properties, across Scotland, from our Sales, Lettings and New Homes teams.

Some homes are impressive because of their scale, others because of their design. Then there are the homes that stay with you because of the stories they hold. When I visited The Station House, I expected to see a beautiful property. What I didn't expect was to leave feeling like I had been invited into a family's history.

Some homes are special. Others are truly once in a generation. Brechin Castle firmly belongs in the latter category. Set within renowned designed policies on the banks of the River South Esk, this remarkable estate offers the chance to become custodian of one of Scotland's most significant historic castles.

The Glasgow City property market is evolving, but one thing remains consistent, demand for well-presented homes in the right locations continues to be strong. As buyer priorities shift and city living regains momentum, sellers who position their property correctly are benefiting from a competitive market and a broad range of motivated purchasers.

How do you create a home that feels calm, considered and effortless? For Jo Heaney, founder of Grace & Tiggy, it begins with intention. Known for her understated, design-led approach to interiors, Jo creates spaces that feel as good as they look, layered, timeless and quietly cohesive.

The rural property market in Scotland’s West and North remains active in 2026, with demand driven by lifestyle buyers seeking space, efficiency, and connectivity. Pricing has become more sensitive, with well-presented homes performing best, while prime and rural lifestyle markets continue to show resilience.

Property transactions don’t always follow a straightforward path, particularly when multiple parties are involved in a chain. What matters most is how quickly and effectively any challenges are handled when they arise.

The East Renfrewshire property market continues to demonstrate impressive resilience and underlying strength, with sustained buyer demand, competitive closing dates, and strong pricing levels evident across key areas. Well-presented homes are consistently attracting multiple interested parties, with many achieving results above, Home Report valuation.

The Glasgow property market continues to demonstrate exceptional strength, with high levels of buyer demand, rapid sales, and competitive prices driving well above Home Report valuation. For homeowners considering selling, recent performance across the West End provides clear evidence that now is an advantageous moment to bring your property to market.

Solar for Summer? Groundbreaking. For over a decade, there has been a rising tension emerging among property purchasers, with the age-old desire for a “property with character” increasingly pitted against a pragmatic requirement for a home which is economical to run. Of course, ‘compromise’ is nothing new-age in the residential housing market.