​New guidance comes into place later this year

Landlords are being urged to get to grips with their new responsibilities with an event being organised to help them do so.

The Scottish Association of Landlords is holding a seminar for landlords in Glasgow to understand their new responsibilities when a new tenancy agreement for the private rented sector (PRS) comes in to force in December.

Changes to private sector tenancies apply to all new tenancies beginning on or after 1 December 2017.

The aim of the change is to make tenancy agreements more flexible, easier to understand by both landlords and tenants and, providing increased clarity and security for both sides.

The event, at Hampden Park from 6.00pm to 8.30pm on 30 October, is free and open to anyone who lets out property.

John Blackwood, chief executive of Scottish Association of Landlords (SAL): “I hope as many landlords as possible will come along to learn more and ask questions as well as find out more about how SAL can help them overcome any issues they might face in the future.”

“This is only the first step in what we hope will be a programme of activity working with a variety of partners in the public and charitable sectors to provide information to the public.

“The new agreement will only be effective if it is clearly understood and effectively enforced to ensure responsible landlords can flourish whilst the tiny number of rogue players who exist can be driven out of the market.”

Established in 2001 the SAL - a charity - is the largest and only dedicated national landlords’ organisation representing landlords and agents throughout Scotland.