The Rettie Blog

The Investigation and Commencement of Repair (Scotland) Regulations 2026 came into force on 6 October.

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.

Choosing the right letting agent is one of the most important decisions a landlord can make. The right partner can help maximise your rental income, protect your investment, and provide peace of mind throughout the tenancy. With so many agents to choose from, knowing what questions to ask can make all the difference. Here, we explore the key factors to consider when selecting a letting agent and why so many landlords choose Rettie to manage their properties.

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.

For nearly 25 years I have worked in Scotland's private rented sector (PRS), speaking with thousands of landlords and investors. In recent years, one conversation has become remarkably common, and deeply frustrating.

Many landlords assume that if they miss the busy summer lettings market, their next opportunity won't come until January. In reality, that's far from the case. Autumn remains an active and rewarding time to bring a property to the market, with strong demand from a variety of tenants looking to secure a home before the end of the year.

Every August, Edinburgh transforms. The city's historic streets become a stage, its cafés and pubs buzz with conversation in dozens of languages, and performers, visitors and residents come together for one of the most exciting cultural events in the world. The Edinburgh Festival Fringe returns from 7 to 31 August, bringing thousands of shows to venues across the capital and reinforcing Edinburgh's reputation as a global destination for creativity and culture.

It's a common misconception among landlords that changing letting agents is difficult, time-consuming, and only possible between tenancies. Switching agents is often much simpler than people expect and can be completed with very little involvement from the landlord.

Scotland’s private rented sector has changed dramatically in recent years. New regulations, evolving compliance requirements and increased scrutiny have created a landscape that is becoming ever more difficult for self-managing landlords to navigate. Research from the SafeDeposits Scotland Charitable Trust highlights a growing challenge:

East Lothian is in the midst of a rental renaissance, with sought-after locations like North Berwick, Gullane, Longniddry, and East Linton commanding unprecedented demand and a critical shortage of properties.

Edinburgh’s property market is one of the most competitive in the UK, making property sourcing and relocation increasingly important for tenants, landlords, and investors.