The Scottish Government has insisted that rent controls will help protect landlords’ property rights and support investment while protecting tenants facing cost-of-living pressures and rising energy prices.
Its amendment sets out how rents will be capped in rent control areas once its Housing Bill gets the green light.
Rent increases would be limited to the CPI annual rate of inflation plus 1%, up to a maximum increase of 6%, and if approved, the cap will apply both to rent increases during the term of a tenancy, and in between tenancies.
Ministers will determine which areas should be subject to rent control to protect tenants.
It says this builds on a package of renters’ rights already in the Housing Bill, including the right to keep pets and to decorate rented properties without having those unreasonably refused.
Legislation is expected to receive Royal Assent in the summer, but the earliest date for provisions to come into force in the private rented sector is likely to be sometime during 2027.
Temporary rent adjudication measures ended on March 31 and are back to standard rules.
If a tenancy started on or after December 1, 2017, rent increases will only be approved once in 12 months, while landlords must use the prescribed form and provide three months’ notice.
Social Justice Secretary Shirley-Anne Somerville says having a home can make a direct contribution to eradicating child poverty.
“Ensuring families can have secure and affordable homes that meet their needs is part of our approach to tackling the housing emergency,” she explained.
“These measures will also help protect tenants against a backdrop of a continuing cost of living crisis and rising energy costs.
“Scotland already has some of the strongest rights in the UK for tenants, but we want to improve the renting experience even more to create an affordable, high-quality and fair rented sector.”
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