The National Residential Landlords Association has joined with other landlord and agent bodies to seek legal opinion on whether Scotland’s rent freeze is legal. 

A rent freeze for the private and social rental sectors has been approved by the SNP-Green politicians ruling the country; the freeze is to be in place for six months with possible extensions taking it to March 2024.

But now the Scottish Association of Landlords, Propertymark, the NRLA and Scottish Land and Estates are seeking independent legal opinion to test the validity of the new law which they say “breaches the individual rights of landlords”.

NRLA chief executive Ben Beadle says:“Tenants across the country are already facing a supply crisis in the private rental sector. Far from making things better, a rent freeze will mean less choice for tenants, making it more difficult for them to access the housing they need.

“A viable and thriving PRS is vital to a healthy housing market. Sadly, the actions of the Scottish Government damage this objective and will ultimately hurt tenants the most.”

And Sarah-Jane Laing, chief executive of Scottish Land & Estates – which represents some of the largest providers of housing in rural Scotland – adds: “[The Scottish Government] repeatedly claimed that the Bill achieves the balance between tenants’ and landlords’ rights to ensure legislative competence, but we do not share his views.

“The acute shortage of properties available for rent in rural Scotland is stark and such legislation will only exacerbate the situation – to the detriment of the rural economy and communities.”

The opinion of the counsel, Lord Davidson, should be known within the next month.