Landlord Registration and Rent Increase Notices in Scotland

Private landlords who are required to register must hold a current registration with their local authority, and that registration number appears on the statutory Rent-Increase Notice. Statutory exemptions apply. Getting this wrong can undermine an otherwise valid notice.

The Registration Requirement on the Notice

The prescribed Rent-Increase Notice under SSI 2017/297 includes a field for the landlord's registration number issued by the relevant local authority under the Antisocial Behaviour etc. (Scotland) Act 2004. This is not optional formatting — the registration number is a mandatory component of Part 1 of the notice.

If you have a live registration, enter the number exactly as it appears on your registration confirmation. If you have applied but are awaiting approval, enter "Landlord Registration Pending" — the regulations allow for this.

What If Your Registration Has Lapsed?

Landlord registration in Scotland must be renewed every three years. If your registration has expired and you serve a Rent-Increase Notice with a lapsed number, you are exposing yourself to two problems.

First, operating as an unregistered landlord is a criminal offence under the 2004 Act. A local authority can issue a Rent Penalty Notice that prevents you from charging rent, and a conviction can result in a fine of up to £50,000.

Second, keep your registration current and state the registration number on the notice. If your application is still being processed, the prescribed form allows you to state "Landlord Registration Pending."

The solution is simple: check your registration status on landlordregistrationscotland.gov.uk before serving any notice and renew it if it has expired.

Joint Ownership and Registration

If the property is owned jointly — by a couple, a family partnership, or through a trust arrangement — each individual who qualifies as a landlord under the registration scheme must be registered. The Rent-Increase Notice must name all landlords and include each person's registration number (or "pending" status).

Agent-Managed Properties

If a letting agent serves the notice on your behalf, their Letting Agent Registration Number (LARN) must also appear on the form. The agent's LARN does not replace your landlord registration number — both are required.

An agent whose own LARN has lapsed or been revoked cannot lawfully serve statutory notices on your behalf. If you receive notice from the Scottish Government that your agent's registration is under review, consider serving the notice yourself or engaging a different registered agent.

Keeping Registration Current

Set a calendar reminder for your three-year renewal date. The renewal process is online and takes less than fifteen minutes. The current fee schedule lists an £85 principal fee plus £20 per property for a single local authority application (£105 for one property); check the Scottish Landlord Register fee schedule when renewing.

A current registration number is just one component of a valid Rent-Increase Notice. For the complete process — the prescribed form, date calculations, service methods, and what happens if your tenant challenges the increase — see the Rent Increases in Scotland guide.

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