Douglas Dickson Property Management

05/03/2026

Making Tax Digital: What Landlords Need to Know

The UK government’s Making Tax Digital (MTD) initiative is set to bring significant changes for many landlords from April 2026, and Douglas Dickson Property Management is here to help you navigate these new rules.

Who Does Making Tax Digital Affect?

HMRC are bringing in new regulations for landlords and sole traders with turnover of over £50,000 from April 2026. This is part of their Making Tax Digital plan.
• From April 2026: Sole traders and landlords with turnover over £50,000
• From April 2027: Sole traders and landlords with turnover over £30,000
• From April 2028: Sole traders and landlords with turnover over £20,000
Those who hold their properties in Limited companies or Partnerships are not currently affected.

What's changing?

You'll need to use recognised software to keep records of your self-employment and property income and expenses and send quarterly updates to HMRC. These quarterly updates aren't tax returns – they're just simple summaries of how your business is doing, in four smaller chunks, pulled from your records. You won't pay four tax bills a year; the deadline for paying your tax will still be 31 January, but this is supposed to simplify the process.

What Do Landlords Need to Do?
• Register for Making Tax Digital with HMRC before April 2026 if your property income is above £50,000.
• Keep digital records of all your property income and expenses using compatible software. Our property management software can directly upload into HMRC approved software to help you efficiently manage the process.
• Submit quarterly updates to HMRC via your chosen software, rather than an annual return. The first return will be due by 7th August 2026.
• Ensure your chosen software meets HMRC’s requirements and allows for seamless submission of your tax data.
• Stay on top of deadlines, as late submissions could result in penalties.
We recommend reviewing your current record-keeping processes.
Our property management software can directly upload into an HMRC approved digital accounting software to help you efficiently manage the process.
If you’re unsure about the requirements or how to get started, our team is here to provide advice and support.

10/10/2025

Scottish Parliament Passes Rent Control Bill

On 30th of September, the Scottish Parliament passed The Housing (Scotland) Bill which will allow the Scottish Government to designate rent control areas. It will become law once it receives Royal Assent from the King.

While rent controls were first introduced in Scotland as an emergency measure in response to the cost-of-living crisis, the Bill will give local authorities the ability to designate rent control areas.

Local authorities will be required to conduct rent assessments every five years and if the Scottish Government deems the rent across the zone to be excessive, they can decide to cap rent increases across the zone at the Consumer Prices Index (CPI) plus one per cent, up to a maximum of six per cent.

The bill also gives greater rights for tenants to personalise their home, obtain permission for a pet and end a joint tenancy where there is disagreement between the tenants about ending the lease.

The provisions in the Bill affecting the PRS require secondary legislation to be drafted and approved to set out the details of how they will operate. It will likely be another 18 months to 2 years, or possibly longer before they come into force.

Send a message to learn more

12/09/2025

Why do landlords use a Letting Agent?

Landlords have been having a hard time over the last few years with increasing regulations and with the impending introduction of rent controls. Increasingly, landlords are turning to letting agents to help them through this.

According to a recent Rightmove survey, landlords’ top priorities were:
• Having reliable tenants and avoiding void periods
• Ensuring properties are well-maintained and in good condition
• Staying compliant with regulations and legal requirements

The main reasons landlords gave for using an agent were:
• They do not want the hassle and stress of managing it themselves.
• They want to ensure they are compliant with regulations and legislation
• Agents have the expertise to do it well, achieve best rents and good tenants.

The survey found that Landlords who use an agent are 15% more likely to review their rent annually and are 9% less likely to experience rental arrears.

At Douglas Dickson we have over 30 years experience of helping landlords manager their rental properties in the Glasgow area.

We know keeping up to date with what is going on can be challenging and time consuming. With our professionally qualified staff, we will ensure you comply with the latest regulations. With our expert market knowledge, we ensure you achieve the best rents and our tenant vetting enables us to secure reliable tenants.

We will help you increase your profitability and remove the stress from managing it yourself.
If you would like us to review the current market rent for your property, contact us on 0141 221 1827.

29/08/2025

We will be attending the Scottish Association of Landlords annual letting day conference on 21st October.

20/02/2025

New Energy Performance regulations Announced for Scotland

The Scottish government has announced plans to introduce new Energy Performance regulations in the Scottish Parliament during 2025 to come into force in 2026.

These reforms include:
• adopting a new Energy Performance Certificate (EPC) rating system for domestic buildings, which will give clearer information on the fabric energy efficiency of a property; the emissions, efficiency and running costs of its heating system; and the cost of energy to run the home to standardised conditions;
• adopting a redesigned EPC certificate;
• reduction of the validity period of EPCs from 10 to five years to ensure consumers have more up-to-date information.

The government still intends to introduce another piece of legislation this year; a Heat in Buildings Bill, which is expected to introduce the following requirements:

• for private rented sector properties to meet a minimum energy efficiency standard by 2028 (owner-occupied properties will need to meet the same standard by 2033);
• for properties in all tenures to have ended their use of polluting heating by 2045.

If you are thinking of refurbishing your property you should consider these proposals and try and include them in your works. We can help you. Contact us if you would like further details.

31/01/2025

Scottish Restrictions on Rent Controls To be Removed

The Scottish Government recently announced that it will be removing the restrictions on rent increases for residential tenancies at the end of March.

From 1st of April 2025, landlords will no longer be restricted on the level of rent they can propose in a rent increase notice to their tenants. Any new rent would take effect 3 months later from 1st of July.

Tenants will still have the right to appeal the rent to a rent officer or tribunal if they feel that the rent is higher than the market rent. Any appeal would result in the rent being set at the open market rental value, even if that is higher than the landlord had proposed.

The Scottish Government is still intending to introduce permanent rent controls in the future, and there is a Housing Bill going through parliament at the moment to bring these into force. For more information on this see our blog http://glasgowpropertyblog.blogspot.com/2024/05/are-rent-controls-coming-to-scotland.html
It is unlikely that any rent controls introduced through this new legislation would come into force before 2027.

The Scottish Government recently introduced a draft bill to parliament that seeks to drastically change how rents in the private rented se...

29/05/2024

Congratulations - Douglas Dickson’s Letting Agent Registration has been renewed.

We are pleased to announce that our letting agent registration has been renewed by the Scottish Government.

As a registered letting agent this means that at Douglas Dickson:
- our senior staff have letting agent qualifications with the Chartered Institute of Housing and maintain best practice through continuing professional development;
- we hold Client money protection insurance and client monies are held in a separate bank account;
- we have professional indemnity insurance;
- we adhere to the letting agent code of conduct.
We look forward to continuing to provide excellent service to our landlords and tenants.

But don’t take our word for it, here is what our landlords say:
https://douglasdickson.co.uk/testimonials.html

If you are looking for a letting agent that has extensive local knowledge and provides outstanding service, then contact us on 0141 221 1827 or [email protected] .

Douglas Dickson Property Managers are Glasgow's Premier Letting Agents providing landlord services and property management throughout Glasgow.

15/05/2024

Are rent controls coming to Scotland? How will the proposed Housing Scotland Bill affect landlords and tenants?

The Scottish Government recently introduced a draft bill to parliament that seeks to drastically change how rents in the private rented sector are set. The bill may well be amended during the legislative process and is not likely to take effect until 2028 at the earliest.

The bill proposes that all Councils will have to assess the rents in their areas at least every 5 years and recommend whether Scottish Ministers should impose rent controls.

If rent control areas are designated, annual rent increases would be restricted by a percentage or formula for mid-tenancy increases and between tenancy increases in those areas for up to 5 years.

The effect of this would be to remove a landlord’s right to reset the rent to a market level between new tenancies.

We do not believe the Scottish Government has thought through the unintended consequences of this policy. There are two key consequences of how rent controls would impact a designated area :
- If landlords cannot increase the rent between new tenancies, they will have little incentive to repaint and re-carpet and even less incentive to spend on major upgrades for new kitchens, bathrooms or heating systems. This will inevitably lead to a lower standard of accommodation in the rental sector. This is not good news for tenants or landlords.
- If landlords cannot make an attractive return on their investments due to limits on the rent they can achieve, they are likely to sell up which will reduce the supply of rental properties and ultimately increase rents in the long term for tenants.

We strongly oppose the rent control element of the bill. Rent controls do not work and ultimately drive down the quality and quantity of rental properties and lead to higher rents in the long term. The Scottish Government should be focusing on increasing the supply of housing – building more social housing and encouraging greater access and affordability for new build private housing.

07/03/2024

Unlock value in your rental property: the benefits of refurbishing?

At Douglas Dickson we help our landlords manage their rental properties. Once of the services we offer is refurbishing their property.

Renovating your rental property can significantly enhance its appeal, attract higher-quality tenants, and ultimately boost your rental income. From modernising interiors to improving energy efficiency, here are some compelling reasons why renovating your rental property can be a game-changer.

1. Increased Rental Income
One of the most obvious benefits of refurbishing your rental property is the potential for increased rental income. Renovations allow you to update the property to meet the demands of the market, making it more desirable to prospective tenants. In Glasgow's competitive rental market, tenants are willing to pay higher rents for properties that offer stylish interiors and energy-efficient features.

2. Attract Higher-Quality Tenants
Refurbishing can also help attract higher-quality tenants who are willing to pay more for a well-maintained and attractive property. By investing in upgrades such as a new kitchen, updated bathrooms, or fresh paint, you can appeal to tenants who value quality and are more likely to take care of the property. This can lead to longer tenancy periods and fewer vacancies, ultimately reducing turnover costs for landlords.

3. Enhanced Property Value
Renovating your rental property can also increase its overall value, providing you with a higher return on investment in the long run. Even minor upgrades can have a significant impact on the property's appraisal value, allowing you to build equity and potentially sell the property for a higher price in the future.

4. Improved Energy Efficiency
In today's environmentally conscious world and with the high cost of gas and electricity, tenants are increasingly looking for rental properties that are energy-efficient and eco-friendly. Renovations that focus on improving energy efficiency, such as installing double-glazed windows, upgrading insulation, or fitting energy-efficient appliances, not only attract environmentally conscious tenants but also help reduce utility costs for both tenants and landlords. This can make your property more competitive in the rental market and appeal to a wider range of potential tenants.

Renovating your rental property can be a wise investment that yields numerous benefits, including increased rental income, higher-quality tenants, enhanced property value and improved energy efficiency. While renovating may require an initial investment of time and money, the long-term rewards make it a worthwhile endeavour for landlords looking to maximise their rental property's potential.

02/02/2024

What would your tenants say about you?

At Douglas Dickson we pride ourselves on providing excellent service to our tenants and landlords.

Our recent tenant survey backs this up with over 91% either very satisfied or satisfied with our responsiveness to their questions or concerns.

83% were very satisfied or satisfied with the speed at which repairs were carried out.And over 80% of our tenants would be very likely or likely to recommend us to their friends or family.

But don’t take our word from it. Here are some comments from our tenants:

“Been with Douglas Dickson for a long time and they always went above and beyond for us.”

“Happily rented for over two years with DD. Great service.”

“Thanks for helping me out whenever I want help.”

“Shona is always prompt with replies and have had no issues with any repairs being done when needed. Very friendly agency would recommend.”

“Prompt responses when required. Clear communication at all times.”

“It has been a very good experience throughout the year. Especially all the communications from Shona were helpful in resolving minor repairs needed at property in quick time.”

“Shona has always been extremely helpful to us.”

😀

26/01/2024

Transitional measures proposed as rent cap ends.

26/01/2024

Scottish Government to remove the 3% rent cap. Is it good news for landlords and tenants?

The Scottish Government has laid regulations to remove the 3% rent cap. Once approved in the coming weeks, new rent control regulations will come into effect from 1st of April 2024 that are less onerous for landlords.

From 1st of April, landlords will be able to raise rents by any amount they wish. However, Tenants who already have the right to challenge unfair increases to a rent officer at Rent Service Scotland, will have greater protection to limit any increase.

The rules will allow a Rent Officer to limit any rent increase to a maximum of 12%, but only if a tenant raises a formal objection.

Whilst we do not believe rent controls work or are desirable, the removal of the 3% cap is to be welcomed. It will allow landlords, who typically only increase rents modestly to existing tenants, greater flexibility. For tenants it provides them with greater certainty on rent increases.

In practice, we work with our landlords and tenants to make sure any increase is both fair in the market place and affordable to the tenant.

The regulations will temporarily modify the rent adjudication process for 12 months so that on making a decision on adjudication, the rent officer would use a rent taper formula as follows:
o If the gap between the market rent and the current rent is 6% or less, then the landlord can increase the rent by the proposed amount, as long as this is not more than the market level.
o If the gap between the market rent and the current rent is more than 6%, the landlord can increase the rent by 6% plus an additional 0.33% for each percent that the gap between the current rent and market rent exceeds 6%. However, the total rent increase cannot exceed 12% of the current rent.

This has the effect, that if the rent increase proposed by the landlord was more than 24%, the maximum increase would be reduced to 12%.

In addition, the delay in carrying out eviction notices will be scrapped from 1st of April 2024.

More details are available on:
https://www.gov.scot/news/continuing-rent-protection-for-private-tenants/

If you have any concerns, do get in touch.

Transitional measures proposed as rent cap ends.