Scottish Landlords Waiting Up to a Year to Repossess Properties — A Warning for SA Landlords Too

Our take

This is a UK story, but South African landlords and policymakers should pay close attention. SA's Rental Housing Act and the PIE Act already make evictions a slow, court-dependent process — and backlogs in the Rental Housing Tribunals and Magistrates' Courts mean timelines can stretch well beyond what landlords budget for. The Scottish experience shows what happens when regulatory intent outpaces administrative capacity: ordinary landlords with one or two properties — often part of a retirement plan — exit the sector, shrinking supply precisely when rental demand is highest. For SA landlords, the lesson is practical: build a financial buffer that covers at least six to nine months of bond repayments, rates, and insurance before pursuing eviction. Vet tenants thoroughly upfront, use a written lease that complies with the Rental Housing Act, and engage a property attorney early rather than waiting for arrears to compound. For tenants, tighter supply typically means higher asking rents. For policymakers, Scotland's trajectory is a cautionary tale about balancing tenant protections with a functioning private rental market.