Reading Time: 4 minutesRecently approved regulations will, from 1 April 2026, allow councils in Scotland to set higher council tax charges for long-term empty homes and second homes.
Category: Housing & Planning
Dampness and mould in rented housing – What will ‘Awaab’s law’ in Scotland do?
Reading Time: 4 minutesThe Scottish Parliament has approved new regulations that will, from October 2026, place new duties on social and private rented landlords. These duties require landlords
Building Safety Levy (Scotland) Bill – looking ahead to Stage 3
Reading Time: 6 minutesThis blog gives an overview of the Building Safety Levy (Scotland) Bill, summarising Stage 1 and 2 ahead of the Stage 3 debate in March 2026.
SPICe Hub: draft Climate Change Plan
Reading Time: 2 minutesThe Scottish Government published a draft Climate Change Plan (CCP) on 6 November 2025, marking the start of 120 days of its parliamentary scrutiny (until 5 March).
Housing data
Reading Time: < 1 minuteFind below dashboards with the latest statistics on housing supply, alternative uses of housing, housing costs and homelessness. Last updated on 1 April 2026.
What happened to the Housing (Scotland) Bill at Stage 2?
Reading Time: 5 minutesThe final stage of the Housing (Scotland) Bill (Stage 3) is due to take place on 23 and 24 September 2025. This blog looks at
Next steps towards a Good Food Nation – do we have the right plan?
Reading Time: 12 minutesThis guest blog provides background to the development of a National Good Food Nation Plan for Scotland.
Driving down driving 3
Reading Time: 12 minutesThis post looks at Scottish Government actions to reduce car use since the establishment of, a now abandoned. target to reduce the distance driven by car by 20% between 2019 and 2030. It also considers plans to set a new target and what actions have been proven to reduce car use.
Planning appeals in Scotland
Reading Time: 6 minutesA post outlining key aspects of the Scottish planning appeal process.
Scotland’s Housing Emergency – one year on
Reading Time: 4 minutesIt’s a year since the Scottish Parliament agreed to a Scottish Labour motion declaring a national “housing emergency” in Scotland. A previous SPICe blog considered