In early September, Scotland’s First Minister Humza Yousaf published his 2023-24 Programme for Government and revealed his plans to introduce a new housing bill. This would include creating new tenants’ rights, introducing a system of long-term rent controls and giving councils the power to raise council taxes on second homes.
Already in Scotland, the ban on evictions and 3% cap on annual rent increases for current tenancies that was introduced in September 2022, has been extended by the Scottish Government until 31st March 2024. However, a coalition of landlords and letting groups – including the Scottish Association of Landlords – is currently awaiting a decision on their request for a judicial review of this legislation.
As far as the introduction of permanent rent controls is concerned, Chief Executive of the SAL, John Blackwood, has said: “Any proposal to introduce rent controls must be done in partnership with all parts of the housing sector along with tenant representatives. This measure should also be viewed as something which addresses short-term concerns until the longer-term measures needed to address Scotland’s housing crisis are implemented and shown to be effective.”
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