Welcome to This Week in Property, our regular round-up of the news that matters if you are buying, selling or letting a home in Scotland. This week asking prices in Scotland dip after a strong September, Revenue Scotland counts fewer sales going through, and a UK report puts Scotland’s rent controls back in the spotlight.

Asking prices in Scotland dip after September’s jump

Rightmove’s October House Price Index, published on 19 October 2026, shows the average asking price of a newly listed home in Scotland fell 1.9% this month. That follows a 3.8% rise in September, when the Scottish average reached £207,426, up 4.2% on the year. Across Britain new asking prices rose 1.0% in October but sit 0.1% below last year, and sales agreed are 8% down on the same period of 2025.

Why it matters: monthly asking-price swings in Scotland are noisy, and 91% of Scottish listings were finding a buyer in September against two thirds across Britain. Price to the Home Report rather than the headlines; our guide to how property valuations work in Scotland explains how that figure is set.

Fewer sales completing, says Revenue Scotland

Revenue Scotland’s LBTT statistics for September 2026, published on 9 October, record 9,010 residential returns, 9% fewer than in September 2025, with residential LBTT (excluding the Additional Dwelling Supplement) at £47.7 million, down 12%. Returns where ADS was due fell 9% to 1,770. The residential bands have not moved since April 2021 (nothing to pay up to £145,000, then 2%, 5%, 10% and 12% above £750,000), and ADS remains 8% of the full price on second homes and buy-to-lets.

Why it matters: fewer completions means less competition for well-priced homes and a quieter buy-to-let market. First-time buyers still pay nothing on the first £175,000; our first-time buyer guide to Ayrshire covers the costs.

Scotland’s rent controls: where things actually stand

The Prosper UK Housing Commission’s report, covered by Scottish Housing News on 13 October 2026, leans on Scotland’s 2022 to 2025 rent freeze and cap to argue against controls in England, citing around £700 million of build-to-rent investment paused or withdrawn. The position here is calmer than the headlines: the Housing (Scotland) Act 2025 framework has been live since 1 April 2026, councils must report their first rent condition assessments by 31 May 2027, and no rent control area has been designated. Where one is, increases would be capped at CPI plus 1%, to a maximum of 6%, with build-to-rent and mid-market homes exempt.

Why it matters: for an Ayrshire or Glasgow landlord nothing changes at renewal this year: rent can still be set at market level, once in 12 months with three months’ notice. Keep the paperwork straight meanwhile, starting with landlord registration.

Buy-to-let lenders keep trimming rates

The Scottish Association of Landlords’ buy-to-let market update of 16 October 2026 lists a run of cuts: NatWest’s two-year purchase fix at 75% loan to value down 0.43% to 4.16%, Accord down by up to 0.43%, Santander by up to 0.16%, and The Mortgage Works fixed rates from 3.49%. Aldermore went the other way, up by as much as 0.17%.

Why it matters: if your fixed rate ends in the next six months, get a decision in principle before the Budget on 28 October rather than after it. Our guide to investing in Scottish property sets out the sums.

400 homes for Maryhill go before Glasgow’s planners

Wheatley Homes’ plan for 401 affordable homes on the Wyndford estate in Maryhill, where four tower blocks came down last year, has been recommended for approval and goes to Glasgow City Council’s planning committee this week, STV reported on 15 October 2026: 343 homes for social rent and 58 for mid-market rent across 24 blocks, plus a council-run community hub.

Why it matters: the biggest single affordable scheme in the north-west of the city for years, and a sign of where housing emergency money is going. Our guide to living in Glasgow has the wider picture.

Maybole gets 41 new homes

South Ayrshire Council’s regulatory panel approved 41 homes at Laurel Bank, Alloway Road, Maybole on 8 October 2026, after a site visit prompted by 22 objections about access from Cargill Avenue. Eleven of the homes will be affordable, above the council’s 15% requirement.

Why it matters: new supply in a town that has had little for years, in the council area with the strongest annual price growth in Scotland in the latest official figures. See our South Ayrshire property and lifestyle guide.

The bottom line

Asking prices are wobbling, completions are down and lenders are competing for landlords again. For the diary: UK Budget 28 October (the trailed “Your First Home” equity loan is England-only), Scottish Letting Day 4 November, Bank of England 5 November, Scottish Budget 3 December. If you are weighing up a move before the new year, a free, no-obligation valuation is the right first step: book your free valuation or get in touch with your local branch.

Read the next instalment: This Week in Property, 26 October 2026, with the August house price index, the ONS rent figures and the Bank of England outlook.