What should a landlord do if a tenant is refusing access to a property to allow maintenance and repair works to be carried out?
Landlords were advised that tenants should permit access to a property for property maintenance and repair works with proper notice. Landlords should ensure that they are contacting the tenant through all available mechanisms on the tenancy agreement to make access arrangements. If this is unsuccessful, landlords are able to apply through the First Tier Tribunal for a mandate to access the property for an authorised purpose.
What can landlords do if other property owners within a tenement do not have insurance?
Landlords were advised that communication should be made with other property owners, to request that all properties are adequately insured. Where this is not the case, landlords could potentially apply to the Sheriff Court and take legal action to compel other owners to insure their property. It was noted that, where the property is subject to a mortgage, insurance is often a condition of this. All property owners should be adequately insured to avoid potential legal action.
Where a tenement property has a mix of owners (e.g. private landlords, owner-occupiers, registered social landlords) and there are Factors involved in the maintenance of the property, is it the Factor’s responsibility to ensure that maintenance checks are carried out?
Landlords were advised that Factors are employed by owners to manage the building on their behalf, and the work carried out can vary. It was noted that every Factor is required to have a written statement of services agreement, which explicitly states what they will or will not do in terms of their management of the building. Landlords were also directed to the Property Factors Act and the associated Code of Conduct.
It was noted that any property maintenance and repair issues highlighted by the Factor would likely require funding from property owners to take forward and would not necessarily form part of the normal services provided.
When arranging insurance, should the reinstatement value be for the whole building or for your flat only, where the property is part of a tenement?
Landlords were recommended to discuss this with their insurance providers, to ensure that their property is insured at the correct level. It was noted that this may depend on the allocation of shares outlined in the title deeds of the property.
How often should electrical appliances within the property be checked for safety?
It was noted that best practice would be to ensure that electrical appliances provided as part of the tenancy are tested and checked annually, however the legal requirement for EICRs (Electrical Installation Condition Reports) and PAT testing is outlined in the Repairing Standard as being at intervals of no more than 5 years.
How often should a landlord inspect/check the smoke and carbon monoxide alarms?
Landlords were advised that smoke and carbon monoxide alarms should be tested regularly, and that it was reasonable to request that tenants check their function weekly or monthly to ensure continued functionality. It was noted that it was reasonable to request that tenants check this themselves, and that there is no requirement for a landlord to attend the property personally on a weekly or monthly basis to check the smoke or carbon monoxide alarms.
What is the most economical way to get an Energy Performance Certificate (EPC)?
Landlord were advised that Home Energy Scotland or the Council's Home Energy Efficiency Team were both useful sources of information around procuring an EPC. Landlords can also search for an EPC assessor via the Energy Saving Trust website.
If a tenant becomes unable to pay rent during their tenancy for reasons outwith their control, should they contact the Council’s Welfare Rights team or Argyll & Bute Citizen’s Advice Bureau (ABCAB)?
It was noted that either referral route would be suitable, depending on the tenant’s preference, however it would be advisable to contact only one of the teams and not both to avoid confusion and duplication. Both services are able to provide assistance, and are likely to provide similar advice, so the tenant would be welcome to contact whichever service they feel most comfortable with.
What is the current position for landlords in relation to the energy requirements coming into place over the next year?
It was noted that landlords would be kept up to date with any upcoming changes by email and through the regular Private Landlord Newsletter. At present, the only agreed change is the introduction of a new EPC system. This system will come into place on 31 October 2026, and all properties will require a new EPC certificate by 31 October 2027.
There is no currently agreed minimum energy efficiency standard for the private rented sector. A Draft Buildings (Heating and Energy Performance) and Heat Networks (Scotland) Bill was published in November 2025, and you can find information about this on the Scottish Government website. However, progress in relation to this Bill has been delayed until after the upcoming Election in May 2026. We will aim to communicate any further updates in this regard to landlords as soon as possible to support this transition.
Does CAB's energy advice include advice on retrofitting a property for net zero (e.g. information on insulation and heat pumps for old tenement buildings and the complexities of doing this if you only own a part of the building). If not, do you have any recommendations of where to look for free impartial advice on this?
Landlords were advised that CAB are able to explore eligibility, and work closely with partners in relation to energy advice. It was noted that CAB work closely with and have an established referral process to Home Energy Scotland as a free, impartial advice service. It was noted that the Home Energy Scotland website hosts a lot of useful information, and it is possible to make a referral to Home Energy Scotland through their website.
