Gilson Gray

Gilson Gray Wins Residential Lettings Team of the Year 2026

Accidental landlord? Know what you’re letting yourself in for

Marcus Di Rollo, head of lettings at Gilson Gray

For many people, becoming a landlord is not something they ever planned to do. They may have moved to a new home but decided to keep their previous property, or inherited a house or flat from a family member and opted to rent it out.

Whatever the reason, accidental landlords now make up a significant proportion of Scotland’s private rented sector. The 2024 Voice of the Landlord Survey Scotland found that around one in four landlords could be classified as accidental landlords – people who entered the rental market without initially intending to become property investors.

There can be clear attractions to retaining a property in these circumstances. An inherited flat, for example, may have avoided many of the upfront costs associated with buying an investment property, such as Land and Buildings Transaction Tax (LBTT) and the Additional Dwelling Supplement (ADS).

Letting the property can therefore provide an additional income while also offering the potential for long-term capital growth, particularly in areas where property values have historically performed well.

However, rental income is not the same as profit. Before letting a property, owners need to account for costs including letting and management fees, insurance, mortgage payments, maintenance and the certificates required to let a property legally. Those considering an HMO will also need to factor in additional licensing requirements.

Maintenance is another cost that can be easily overlooked by someone new to being a landlord. Properties naturally deteriorate over time, while unexpected problems such as a leaking roof or broken boiler can quickly wipe out several months of rental income. Setting aside money for repairs and having appropriate landlord insurance can help manage these risks.

The tax position also needs to be understood from the outset. Rental income generally needs to be declared through a tax return when a property is let personally, with the precise position depending on the individual’s circumstances, income and allowable expenses. Additional income could also push them into a higher tax band – something they may not have anticipated when deciding to let the property.

There may be further tax implications if the property is eventually sold, including Capital Gains Tax depending on the situation. Where a property is held through a company, the position can be different again, with corporation tax potentially applying to profits and further personal tax considerations when money is taken from the business.

Alongside the financial considerations, landlords also face new administrative requirements. From April 2026, landlords with qualifying rental income above £50,000 are required to use Making Tax Digital for Income Tax, with the threshold falling to £30,000 from April 2027 and £20,000 from April 2028. Those within scope will need to keep digital records and send quarterly updates to HM Revenue and Customs.

For anyone considering becoming a landlord, the starting point should therefore be a realistic assessment of the property’s likely income, costs and tax position. Speaking to an accountant can help establish whether retaining the property is financially viable and ensure the owner understands their obligations from the outset.

For many accidental landlords, retaining the property can be a practical way to generate an additional income while holding an asset with potential for long-term growth. But making the most of that opportunity requires careful consideration of the responsibilities involved.

Ultimately, for those who unexpectedly find themselves in the private rented sector, taking the time to assess the costs, tax implications and responsibilities from the outset can help ensure the property works as a sustainable investment rather than simply generating rent.

Beauty is in the eye of the regulator as Scotland’s aesthetics rules change

The days of offering a quick cosmetic treatment from the spare room, beauty salon or a client’s home could soon be numbered. From September 2027, Scotland’s aesthetics industry will face a significant regulatory shake-up, bringing a range of non-surgical cosmetic procedures within a formal licensing framework for the first time.

For an industry that has grown rapidly, fuelled in part by social media and increasingly accessible treatments, the scale of the market is significant. The UK’s cosmetic surgery industry is estimated to be worth £3.6 billion, with non-surgical treatments such as Botox and dermal fillers accounting for 90% of that figure .

From 6 September 2027, certain non-surgical procedures will require a licence under the Civic Government (Scotland) Act 1982 , while others will face additional restrictions under the Non-surgical Procedures and Functions of Medical Reviewers (Scotland) Act 2026 . Together, the reforms create a more structured framework for treatments that pierce or penetrate the skin and are carried out for cosmetic or wellbeing purposes.

The changes represent a major shift for an industry that has historically sat in something of a regulatory grey area. Treatments have become increasingly sophisticated and widely available, but the rules governing who can perform them, where they can be carried out and what standards must be met have not always kept pace.

The new regime aims to change that. At the heart of the reforms is a distinction between procedures that can be managed through local authority licensing and those considered to require greater clinical oversight. Certain lower-risk treatments, including some forms of microneedling and non-ablative laser hair removal, will fall within the new licensing regime.

Higher-risk procedures, including injectable treatments like dermal fillers and botulinum toxin, will face tighter controls. These treatments will need to be carried out in specified permitted premises, such as registered independent clinics or hospitals and certain medical, dental or pharmacy settings.

For practitioners and clinic owners, this means that knowing your treatment menu inside out will become more important than ever. A procedure that could previously be offered without a specific licence may soon come with a very different compliance checklist.

Arlene Dunbar, licensing team lead at full-service law firm Gilson Gray

A brilliant evening. A chance to make a lasting difference.

A heartfelt thank you from Edinburgh Remakery, MELCC’s Charity of the Year, to everyone who donated at last week’s Awards. You raised £280 to support our charitable work. Congratulations, too, to all the winners and finalists!

Our Tech Gifting Programme helps people facing digital exclusion access a refurbished device for homework, job applications and keeping in touch. Our community clubs offer people who feel isolated a warm welcome, a creative activity and someone to talk to.

A device can open up someone’s world. A friendly conversation can make a lonely week feel brighter. Your support helps make both possible.

If you missed the QR codes on the evening, there’s still time to give. Every donation is warmly appreciated.

The Edinburgh Remakery Ltd – Donate now

Thomson Cooper Strengthens Audit Team with Promotion of Chris Steedman to Audit Director

Thomson Cooper is pleased to announce the promotion of Chris Steedman to Audit Director. This follows his recent award of Responsible Individual (RI) status by The Institute of Chartered Accountants of Scotland (ICAS). Chris joined Thomson Cooper as a Senior Audit Manager in 2025 following a senior management role within one of the Big Four global accounting firms.

Reflecting on his Director role Chris said “Achieving RI status is a significant milestone in my career and one that reflects the support I have received from colleagues and mentors throughout my professional journey. I have always enjoyed the variety that audit brings, working closely with businesses across different sectors and helping to provide confidence in financial reporting. I’m looking forward to continuing to develop client relationships, supporting our people and contributing to the ongoing development of Thomson Cooper’s Audit Team.”

Managing Partner Alan Mitchell added, “Chris achieving RI status recognises his expertise, technical ability and commitment to the highest standards of audit quality. His promotion to Director reflects the growth and success of our Audit Team, and he will work with existing Audit Director Jacqueline Whyte and the leadership team to further enhance our ability to deliver exceptional service to our rapidly growing client base.

In response to rising demand for our service offering, we have recently opened our third office. This expansion strengthens our ability to support clients at every stage of their journey while creating a strong platform for the future development of our business. We are proud to be recognised as one of Scotland’s leading independent practices, delivering expert, trusted and proactive advice alongside the personal service our clients have come to value and rely on.”

Photo : Chris Steedman (sitting) and Alan Mitchell

Home buying reforms offer a chance to get the process right

The UK Government’s proposed reforms to the home buying and selling process in England and Wales aim to reduce delays and cut transaction failures through a combination of upfront information, earlier legal commitment and greater use of digital data tools. Although announced before Andy Burnham became Prime Minister, the roadmap remains the Government’s published programme for reform.

Part of these reforms includes sales packs that have inevitably prompted comparisons with the suspended Home Information Packs (HIPs). However, dismissing them as simply “HIPs revisited” risks overlooking a genuine opportunity for meaningful change.

The failure of HIPs is often cited as the reason further reform is unlikely to succeed. Introduced in 2007, HIPs required sellers to provide key property information before marketing their homes, but their central element – a seller-funded Home Condition Report – was dropped before implementation because of cost and capacity concerns, leaving a bundle of documents that many buyers, lenders and legal professionals viewed as a compliance exercise rather than a genuine improvement.

Today’s environment is different. Property data is increasingly digitised, records can be shared more effectively, and consumers are far more comfortable with digital transactions. A modern digital property pack could be genuinely helpful if it contains verified and reusable information, with the value lying not in another compliance bundle, but in getting the right information to the right people at the right time.

The reality is that the home moving process in England and Wales is seen as one of the most unsatisfying consumer experiences in the UK, characterised by delay and avoidable stress. Buyers often invest significant time, money and emotional commitment before key information becomes available; sellers can encounter issues late that could have been spotted sooner; and conveyancers are frequently instructed only once a sale is agreed.

Reducing those risks sits at the heart of the Government’s plans, and the principle is simple: when property data is verified and made available earlier, everyone benefits. Buyers can make more informed decisions, sellers gain greater clarity, estate agents can market more accurately, and conveyancers can resolve issues rather than discover them late.

There is also a clear Scottish influence behind the direction of travel. Scotland has long operated with more information available at the outset of the transaction, including the Home Report, and the concept of earlier legal commitment through missives is often cited as a model for greater certainty.

However, it is important to be realistic. In practice, missives in Scotland often conclude much later than many consumers expect. The Scottish market has, over time, moved closer to the experience in England and Wales, particularly where there are chains, lender requirements, title issues or delays in satisfying contractual conditions.

The lesson is not that England and Wales should replicate Scotland entirely, but that policymakers should identify the elements that work well and adapt them to today’s market.

In Scotland, parties will often agree a proposed date of entry at a very early stage in the transaction, frequently before the legal work, title investigation and contractual negotiations have been completed. While that date does not become legally binding until missives are concluded, the practical reality is that buyers and sellers quickly organise their lives around it. Removal companies are booked, mortgage arrangements are made, notice is given on properties and onward transactions are planned.

As a result, there is a strong commercial and professional imperative on all parties, particularly conveyancers, to work towards achieving the agreed date. That early focus on a target date of entry can help drive momentum and maintain pressure throughout the transaction. Law firms also have greater visibility and control over their caseloads, allowing them to manage capacity and resource more effectively through completion-based KPIs.

By contrast, completion dates in England and Wales are often not discussed meaningfully until legal enquiries are answered and parties are nearing exchange. While this reduces the risk of unrealistic expectations, it also means transactions can progress without a clear deadline, arguably reducing the pressure to maintain momentum and limiting law firms’ ability to forecast completions and manage financial targets.

Turning back to the proposed reforms, conveyancers will face significant change as more work moves to the beginning of the transaction. Sellers may need legal input before a property is marketed, and title issues, leasehold information, estate charges and other key points may need to be reviewed much earlier.

However, moving legal work further upstream has practical implications. Earlier legal involvement means clients will need to engage and instruct solicitors before a property is marketed and, in some cases, before there is any certainty that a transaction will proceed. That raises legitimate questions about cost, consumer appetite and commercial risk.

There is also a distinction between giving consumers meaningful upfront information and requiring full legal due diligence before a property is even marketed.

The profession will need to consider carefully how these services are delivered and funded, as it is unlikely to be sustainable for firms to simply absorb upfront legal work on properties that may never sell. New models are likely to emerge, including fixed-fee seller packs, staged pricing, deferred payment arrangements or closer collaboration between estate agents and conveyancers. Consumers, in turn, will need to accept that earlier legal advice carries a cost – one that may ultimately be offset by a faster, more transparent transaction with less risk of failure.

Alongside upfront information, there have also been suggestions that buyers and sellers should enter into some form of binding agreement much sooner in the process to reduce transaction failure. The objective is understandable, but the practical reality is more complex: residential transactions remain dependent on mortgage approvals, surveys, title investigations and chain progression, so any early agreement would need to be conditional on numerous factors. Current proposals appear to envisage this, but the test will be designing arrangements that provide meaningful commitment without creating false certainty or unnecessary complexity.

The future of home buying and selling will not be found in simply copying the Scottish model or resurrecting HIPs. It lies in combining earlier preparation, better information, clearer timelines and modern technology to create a process that reflects the reality of today’s property market.
The proposed reforms are not a silver bullet, but the direction of travel is encouraging. If implemented thoughtfully, they could help move residential conveyancing away from a reactive process and towards one that is more efficient and consumer-focused.

That would be a better outcome for buyers, sellers and the wider property industry alike

Local business success celebrated at Midlothian & East Lothian Chamber Business Awards

Businesses from across Midlothian and East Lothian came together at Eskmills to celebrate achievement, innovation and community impact at the Chamber’s annual Business Awards.

The Midlothian & East Lothian Chamber of Commerce Business Awards brought together businesses, entrepreneurs and guests from across the two regions on Thursday 17 September, for an evening celebrating the people and organisations making a difference across the local economy.

Held at The Venue at Eskmills, Musselburgh, the awards recognised achievement across ten categories, showcasing the diversity, ambition and contribution of businesses across Midlothian and East Lothian.

The 2026 winners were:
• High Growth Business of the Year: McSence Group – Midlothian
• Best Innovation in Business: Saltire Patisserie Ltd – Midlothian
• Net Zero Champion: Yarrow Cookery School – East Lothian
• Best Community Impact: Midlothian Tourism Forum – Midlothian
• Manufacturer of the Year: Inclusive Play – Midlothian
• Retailer of the Year: Archerfield Walled Garden – East Lothian
• Micro Business of the Year: Learn to Grow Ltd – Midlothian
• Family Business of the Year: Peter Joyce and Son Ltd – Midlothian
• SME of the Year: Had Fab Ltd – East Lothian
• Service Excellence: Reliable IT Services – Midlothian

Keith Barbour, President of Midlothian & East Lothian Chamber of Commerce, said:
“It was fantastic to bring our business community together for another memorable Chamber Business Awards evening. The standard of entries and the achievements of our finalists demonstrate the incredible range of businesses we have across Midlothian and East Lothian.

“These awards provide an opportunity to recognise the hard work, innovation, growth and commitment of businesses and individuals across our two regions. Every finalist should be extremely proud of reaching this stage, and our congratulations go to all of this year’s winners.

“What makes the evening particularly special is seeing businesses come together to celebrate each other’s success, make new connections and strengthen the relationships that are so important to our local economy.”

The Chamber also paid tribute to the sponsors and supporters whose contribution helped make this year’s awards possible. The Chamber’s headline sponsor was Hargreaves Land, with further support from Fred. Olsen Renewables, Gensource, Seton Sands Holiday Park and Thomson Cooper.

Congratulations to all of the 2026 winners, finalists and participants, and thank you to everyone who helped make the Midlothian & East Lothian Chamber Business Awards a memorable celebration of local business.

 

Check out all photographs from the 2026 Chamber Awards at Lee Live Photography, the official photographer of the event.

*You are welcome to use the images for any purpose… but please credit “Lee Live: Photographer” where applicable. 

For more details on the winners, finalists, sponsors and supporters, download 2026 Awards Brochure 

 

Free Technology & IT Strategy Consultation for Local Businesses

Unlock smarter, more efficient operations with a complimentary consultation from Strategic Consulting Ltd.

As fellow Chamber members, we’re offering a free, no obligation session to help you:

• Get clear, jargon free answers to any IT or tech strategy questions you may have
• Optimise the technology you already have
• Assess your readiness for future technology developments
• Improve stability, efficiency, and digital resilience

Ideal for: Businesses looking to streamline operations, modernise systems, or gain clarity on their next technology step.

Book your free initial introductory call now: Choose a time that suits you via our booking link, or contact Gary Montgomery, CEO, directly at gary.montgomery@sclpartners.com if you’d prefer a more direct introduction.

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Hello from Strategic Consulting Ltd

As new members of the Midlothian & East Lothian Chamber of Commerce, we’re really looking forward to getting to know everyone and becoming part of the wider business community here in the Lothians. We’re a fully remote working business, but we’re very proudly rooted in East Lothian – it’s where we were incorporated, and it continues to shape how we think and operate.

To start off our membership, we’re delighted to share some positive news.

Strategic Consulting Ltd has been recognised by The CEO Views as one of their Innovators of the Year 2026, celebrating organisations making a meaningful impact in technology and business transformation.

Ben Johnson, Managing Editor at The CEO Views, said “The company’s practical approach to technology consulting and programme delivery demonstrates how experienced guidance can help organisations manage complex change. Its work across technology transformation and business critical IT environments makes it a notable organisation in this year’s edition.”

For us, this recognition reflects our commitment to practical, grounded innovation and customer service, helping organisations turn IT investment into measurable business results and sustainable change.

A huge thank you to our clients, partners, and colleagues who make achievements like this possible. We’re excited to bring that same spirit into the MELCC community and to connect with fellow businesses across Midlothian and East Lothian.

Meet the Buyer South returns for fifth year!

The fifth annual Meet the Buyer South will be held on Wednesday 7 October, from 10am to 1pm, at the Corn Exchange in Haddington. The free networking event is hosted by the Supplier Development Programme (SDP) in partnership with East Lothian and Scottish Borders Councils.

Suppliers will have the chance to meet procurement teams from local authorities in the South-east of Scotland, as well as other public and private sector organisations under one roof.

On the day, attendees will be able to discuss live and upcoming contract opportunities and find out about future projects, spanning across several different industries.

Alongside the event partners, confirmed exhibitors so far include Scottish Government, Midlothian Council, Scotland Excel, Forestry and Land Scotland, Ogilvie Construction, and more…

Meet the Buyer South provides a unique opportunity for local businesses to introduce themselves and set out what goods, services or works they can offer to buyers. It’s an ideal setting for businesses of all sizes to build connections with decision makers across the public and private sectors.

Gillian Cameron, Programme Manager at the Supplier Development Programme, said:

“We’re thrilled to be bringing Meet the Buyer South back for the fifth year. Hosted in partnership with East Lothian and Scottish Borders Councils, this year’s event will see a strong line-up of exhibitors coming together for one day, to help local businesses find supply chain opportunities.”
All businesses must register for free tickets in advance via www.sdpscotland.co.uk.