Changes to Scottish Secure Tenancy Agreements from 1st August
Some changes to Scottish housing law came into effect on 1 August 2026. These changes are reflected in the Scottish Government’s new Model Scottish Secure Tenancy Agreement, which is used as the basis for new Scottish Secure Tenancies created from that date.
If your tenancy started before 1 August, you will not normally receive a new tenancy agreement because of this update. However, some of the legal changes may still affect your rights and responsibilities as a tenant.
The main changes include stronger protections for people experiencing domestic abuse, changes to succession rights, and updated rules about how some notices can be sent. The new agreement also reflects repair requirements coming into force later this year under Awaab’s Law.
For domestic abuse, social landlords now have a clearer legal route to ask the court to remove the tenancy rights of a person causing harm, including where they are a joint tenant. This is intended to help the person experiencing abuse remain safely in their home, where appropriate.
For succession, the qualifying period has reduced from 12 months to six months for some people who may be able to take over a tenancy when a tenant dies, where they meet the legal criteria.
These changes are designed to help make tenancy rights clearer and provide better support where tenants may be at risk, including allowing social landlords to take action through the courts in some domestic abuse cases so that a victim-survivor may be able to remain safely in their home.
If you have any questions about your tenancy or need advice, please contact us. If you are experiencing domestic abuse, or are worried about someone else, you can speak to us in confidence. If someone is in immediate danger, call 999.
You can view the new tenancy agreement here.
