Overview
From 30 June 2025, the Code gives tied-pub tenants rent review rights in two situations: when the landlord starts a rent review under the tenant's existing lease terms, or when the tenant requests one because their lease has no rent review terms at all. Either way, the new rent is based on what a comparable pub would likely let for on the open market, on the same lease terms.
What the tenant needs to know
If your landlord starts the review
You must receive a rent assessment statement at least 6 months before the rent is due to change, with a valuation date also at least 6 months out. It must include the proposed rent and how it was calculated, a 12-month profit and loss forecast, up to 3 years of alcohol purchase history, and any other information relied on.
If you request a review yourself
You can request a review if your lease has no rent review terms, and you have at least 12 months left on your lease, haven't requested a review in the last 5 years, your landlord hasn't assessed the rent in the last 5 years, and you're not currently negotiating or assessing an MRO lease. Requests must be made in writing. Your landlord must respond with a rent assessment statement within 6 weeks (extendable by 4 weeks if you both agree), containing the same information as above.
Getting help
Every rent assessment statement must point you to independent advice. You can also ask your landlord directly for information about your pub's rent - they must either provide it or explain, as soon as reasonably practical, why they can't.
What happens to the new rent
For a landlord-started review, the new rent applies from the date set in your lease's rent review provisions. For a tenant-requested review, a new rent only applies if you and your landlord agree it - effective the next day. If you don't agree, nothing changes, and the process is treated as complete 6 months after your original request.
Protections that apply either way
Your lease can't include a rent review term that only your landlord can trigger, and it can't say rent may only increase (or can never decrease) through this process - both are void under the Code regardless of what your lease says.
What the pub-owning business must do
No separate pub-owning-business source page exists for this topic - the following is reframed from the tenant-facing guidance above, not cross-checked against a second document.
If you start the review
You must issue a rent assessment statement at least 6 months before the rent is due to change, dated to a valuation point also at least 6 months out, setting out the proposed rent and its basis, a 12-month profit and loss forecast, up to 3 years of alcohol purchase history, and any other information relied on. You must direct the tenant to independent advice.
If the tenant requests a review
You must respond within 6 weeks (or 10 by mutual agreement) with a rent assessment statement covering the same information. If the tenant asks you directly for rent information, you must provide it or explain as soon as reasonably practical why you can't.
What you can't include in a lease
A rent review term that only you can trigger, or one that lets rent only increase (or never decrease), is unenforceable under the Code regardless of what the lease says.
Process and timeline
These are the maximum timescales set out in the Code - most cases move faster.
Track A - landlord starts the review
Landlord issues rent assessment statement - at least 6 months before the change.
New rent takes effect on the date set in the lease.
Track B - tenant requests a review
Tenant checks eligibility, then requests in writing.
Landlord issues rent assessment statement - up to 6 weeks, plus up to 4 more by mutual agreement.
If agreed, new rent is effective the next day. If not agreed, no change - process closes 6 months after the original request.
Related forms, templates and guidance
SPCA Enquiry Line - 0300 244 1225 - pubscodeadjudicator@gov.scot