Scottish landlord legislation has shifted again – and if you let property in Dumfries and Galloway, this one matters. This October, review current comparable evidence and your property’s condition, including heating and maintenance needs before winter.
The Housing (Scotland) Act 2025 is the most significant change to the private rented sector (PRS) north of the border since the Private Housing (Tenancies) (Scotland) Act 2016 introduced open-ended tenancies. Part 1 of the new Act came into force on 1 April 2026, giving Scottish Ministers the power to designate Rent Control Areas (RCAs) across Scotland.
No designation has been made for Dumfries and Galloway yet. But the clock is ticking – and local landlords need to be ready.
What the Housing (Scotland) Act 2025 actually does
The Act creates a formal framework for rent controls in Scotland’s private rented sector. Scottish Ministers can now designate specific areas as Rent Control Areas based on evidence of high or rapidly rising rents.
Once an area is designated, rent increases are capped at CPI+1% – with a maximum ceiling of 6%, regardless of how high inflation runs.
That cap applies in two situations:
- During an existing tenancy – limiting how much you can raise a tenant’s rent while they’re living in the property
- Between tenancies – meaning the cap doesn’t reset when a new tenant moves in
That second point is significant. Previous emergency rent cap measures in Scotland only restricted in-tenancy increases. This Act closes that gap.
Why Dumfries and Galloway landlords should pay attention now
Dumfries and Galloway hasn’t been designated as an RCA. But local authorities are now legally required to assess local rent conditions and report their findings to Scottish Ministers by 31 May 2027.
That assessment is already underway in the background. Dumfries and Galloway Council will be collecting data on rent levels, rent growth, and housing affordability across postcodes including DG1 and DG2.
The numbers they’ll be looking at paint a clear picture. According to ONS data from August 2026, rents in Dumfries and Galloway are up 6.6% year-on-year. One-bedroom rents rose 16.1% in the year to September 2025 – one of the sharpest increases recorded in the region.
These are precisely the figures that inform an RCA assessment. Landlords with properties in central Dumfries, Lochside, Lincluden, and Noblehill – areas where rental demand has been particularly strong – should take note.
What the CPI+1% cap means in plain language
Let’s say CPI (Consumer Prices Index) is running at 3% in a given year. Under the cap, the maximum rent increase you could apply in a designated RCA would be 4% (3% + 1%).
If CPI were at 5%, the cap would be 6% – the absolute ceiling built into the legislation.
Any rent increase above that level would be unlawful in a designated area. Tenants would have the right to challenge excessive increases at the First-tier Tribunal for Scotland (Housing and Property Chamber).
No rent-control designation for Dumfries and Galloway has been established here as at October 2026. Any future cap would depend on a ministerial designation, its operative date, the property being in scope and applicable exceptions; it should not be presented as taking effect immediately without notice.
Which properties are exempt?
Not all properties fall under the RCA framework. The Act includes exemptions for:
- Mid-market rent (MMR) properties – those let at below-market rates by registered social landlords or approved providers
- Certain build-to-rent (BTR) stock – specifically purpose-built rental developments that meet criteria set out in secondary legislation
If you own a standard buy-to-let property in Dumfries – a tenement flat on Buccleuch Street, a semi-detached in Troqueer, or a terraced house near Dumfries Academy – none of these exemptions are likely to apply to you.
The new joint tenant termination right – a change many landlords haven’t spotted
Buried within the same Act is a provision that’s received far less coverage: a new right for joint tenants to end a tenancy individually.
Under the existing Private Residential Tenancy (PRT) framework, all joint tenants had to agree to end a tenancy together. One tenant couldn’t serve a notice to leave on behalf of the whole tenancy.
The new process allowing one joint PRT tenant to end the joint tenancy is scheduled for April 2027. It is not already available in October 2026; current joint-tenancy termination rules still need to be followed.
For landlords with shared tenancies – student lets near the University of the West of Scotland’s Dumfries campus at Crichton, HMOs in the town centre, or any multi-occupancy lets – this is a meaningful operational change.
Ahead of April 2027, review the new notice and consultation requirements with your adviser. Do not treat the reform as a right to end a joint tenancy immediately without following the statutory process.
Your action checklist ahead of the council’s assessment
You don’t need to wait for a designation to act. Here’s what to do now:
1. Track your rent increase history
Document every rent increase you’ve applied since April 2026, including the date, the previous rent, the new rent, and the percentage change. If an RCA is designated, this record will matter.
2. Maintain thorough tenancy records
Keep copies of all tenancy agreements, rent review notices, and correspondence with tenants. The First-tier Tribunal and local authority assessors may request this information.
3. Check your landlord registration is current
All private landlords in Scotland must be registered with their local council. Check that your registration with Dumfries and Galloway Council is up to date and that all properties in your portfolio are listed. Registration lapses can result in fines and affect your ability to let legally.
4. Review your portfolio compliance
Use this October to check EPC documentation, the Repairing Standard, gas safety, electrical inspections and any HMO licence. Scotland does not currently have a general EPC D minimum for new domestic private lets; proposed Scottish MEES changes must be distinguished from current duties.
5. Seek advice if you’re unsure
Whether you have one rental property or a larger portfolio across DG1 and DG2, the legislative landscape is complex. Getting advice now – before a designation is made – puts you in a much stronger position.
What happens next
Dumfries and Galloway Council must submit its rent condition assessment to Scottish Ministers by 31 May 2027. Ministers will then decide whether to designate the area, part of the area, or no area at all.
There’s no guarantee of designation. But with rent growth running at 6.6% year-on-year locally, the data is exactly what the Act was designed to respond to.
Staying informed and organised now means you won’t be caught off guard if designation follows.
Talk to Hunters Dumfries about your rental portfolio
At Hunters Dumfries, we work with landlords across Dumfries and Galloway every day – from first-time landlords letting a single flat to experienced investors managing larger portfolios. We understand the Scottish PRS legislation, we follow the Housing (Scotland) Act 2025 closely, and we’re here to help you make sense of what it means for your properties.
If you’d like to understand how current rent levels in your area compare, or you want a clearer picture of how your portfolio sits ahead of the council’s assessment, get in touch with the Hunters Dumfries team today.
You can also book a free rental valuation to see what your property is currently worth in the Dumfries and Galloway market – and to make sure your rent is set at the right level before any future controls come into effect.
Hunters Dumfries – here to get you there.
