Ending Covid-19-related extension of notice periods for tenants in Scotland

The Scottish Government issued new regulations on 23 February that will end the COVID-19 related extension of notice periods for tenants on 30 March 2022. There had been plans to put the extended notice periods on a permanent basis, but the government has decided that this will not go ahead.

The extensions, introduced to protect tenants during the pandemic, the Coronavirus (Scotland) Act 2020 modified the law on eviction notices following the serving of an eviction notice. The Act created a six month notice period on all grounds for possession. There were exceptions for certain grounds, including cases of anti-social and criminal behaviour.

The temporary extension period will end on the 30 March except where:

• eviction notices were served before 30 March 2022 the 6 month notice period will continue to apply after the relevant provisions of in the 2020 legislation have expired.
• an eviction notice was served prior to March 2022 and the notice period has not yet expired, any further notice served on or after the 30 March cannot expire earlier than that of the existing notice if it contains any of the grounds for eviction in the existing notice

Full details of the regulations can be found in the link below:

The Coronavirus (Scotland) Acts (Early Expiry of Provisions) Regulations 2022 (legislation.gov.uk)