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Private Landlord Forum

Updates and support for private landlords and letting agents

This newsletter shares updates, guidance and support for private landlords and letting agents in South Lanarkshire. It highlights current issues, training opportunities and services that can help you manage properties well and meet your legal responsibilities.

Working with private landlords

We work closely with landlords and letting agents and value the role of the private landlords forum. The forum helps us share good practice, improve standards and keep you informed about changes that affect the private rented sector.

This newsletter brings together key updates, practical advice and links to useful support.

Empty homes

A privately owned home is classed as empty if it has been unoccupied for six months or more. Leaving a property empty can be costly and stressful. Owners often face:

  • increased council tax charges
  • higher insurance and maintenance costs
  • greater risk of vandalism
  • complaints from neighbours

An empty home can cost between £8,600 and £10,400 per year to keep. Long‑term empty properties can also affect the wider area, including nearby property values.

Bringing empty homes back into use is one of the most cost‑effective ways to increase housing supply. On average, it costs £6,000 to £12,000 to make an empty property fit to live in again. With demand for housing remaining strong, now is a good time to consider selling or renting out an empty property.

Empty homes support service

We now have a dedicated empty homes officer who supports owners to bring properties back into use. Free advice is available on:

  • reduced VAT for renovation work on empty properties
  • finding tenants through housing options and partner services
  • grants and incentives for energy efficiency improvements
  • selling a property through an estate agent or auction

We are also exploring new ways to support owners, including a possible matchmaker scheme to connect empty home owners with buyers. We will share updates on our website.

If you own an empty property and want advice, visit our Empty homes page.

Landlord accreditation training

Landlord accreditation scotland offers online training and accreditation for private landlords. Accreditation is free and gives access to lower‑cost webinars.

The live webinars:

  • last one hour
  • have limited places
  • include time for questions

They cover landlord responsibilities, legal changes and good practice in the private rented sector. This is a helpful way to stay up to date.

Upcoming webinars

  • Wednesday 29 April 2026, 2pm to 3pm – GDPR for landlords and agents – get it right
  • Tuesday 5 May 2026, 2pm to 3pm - Managing the end of a tenancy
  • Wednesday 6 May 2026, 2pm to 3pm - Identifying and Understanding Damp and Mould
  • Wednesday 13 May 2026, 2pm to 3pm - Managing tenant complaints
  • Thursday 14 and 21 May 2026, 2pm to 3pm - Dealing with Difficult Tenants - A Toolkit for Landlords - Conflict and Communication

You can book through the links provided or via the landlord accreditation Scotland website. For advice, call 0131 553 2211 or email info@landlordaccreditationscotland.com

Keeping in touch

We send forum invitations and updates by email through our landlord registration team. Please make sure your contact details are up to date.

You can update your details at www.landlordregistrationscotland.gov.uk or email LandlordRegistrationTeam@southlanarkshire.gov.uk.

Useful links

You may find the following websites helpful:

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