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Last ditch bid to get politicians to scrap threat to private rental sector

Housing groups have united to appeal to politicians to step back from new laws that threaten to “devastate” the number of homes for rent.

The Scottish Parliament is to debate the final stage of a Bill today which includes plans to give tribunals the final say on tenant evictions.

At the height of the pandemic there was a moratorium on evictions, except in special circumstances approved by a tribunal. 

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The Coronavirus (Recovery and Reform) Bill seeks to make this change permanent and a tribunal would be asked to rule on every instance where a landlord has legitimate reasons for ending a tenancy, including non-payment of rent. 

Landlord groups claim this could “decimate” the value of a property and up to one in five landlords could withdraw from the market.

The Scottish Association of Landlords, NFU Scotland, the National Trust for Scotland and Scottish Land & Estates have warned that although the proposals are intended to offer greater protection to a very small number of tenants facing eviction, they will backfire on a far greater number of people looking to rent homes at a time when homes are in short supply.

 

John Blackwood, chief executive of the Scottish Association of Landlords, says: “We are appealing to our parliamentarians to think again over these proposals. There is a tried and tested eviction process which already works well and protects tenants and landlords. There is a very real danger that if this goes ahead landlords will lose confidence and simply sell homes at a time when they are in great need.”

Sarah Jane Laing, chief executive of Scottish Land & Estates, whose members rent around 3,000 homes in rural Scotland, adds: “This is a prime example where the consequences have not been thought through. Whether you are a landlord with a single buy to let flat or someone with multiple properties, the prospect of not being able to regain possession of the home you own scares landlords, driving them from the sector and reducing availability of homes for tenants. The Scottish Parliament should take a step back and look at this again in further detail.”

Want to comment on this story? If so...if any post is considered to victimise, harass, degrade or intimidate an individual or group of individuals on any basis, then the post may be deleted and the individual immediately banned from posting in future.

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    The White Paper in England is driving up rents and reducing supply. Time to scrap plans to make that law in order to keep a private rental sector in existence. The Government needs to recognise that most landlords are ordinary people, and will not be prepared to stay if it becomes better to leave.

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    Section 24, and wholesale selective Licence should be scrapped. The Government and Councils are cashing in at our and the Tenants Expense. They need to look at the facts not just follow ideology that Landlords are there to be bled dry.

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    Only 1 in 5 looking to withdraw !! And the rest ..... who would stay in a market with that possible outcome, i am looking to pull out due to EPC C, and i don't own anything in Scotland ! If we got what they are looking at i would be out right NOW. All the best my Scottish colleagues, make the sensible decision and get out now.

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    The last two major Scottish PRS bashing legislation changes in 2004 and 2017 each resulted in market rents for the best properties rising by 30% each time.

    I fully expect the same again due to a further exodus of landlords and a further shortage of rental properties.

    I have no intention of selling up and can't think of a safer home for my hard earned life savings, especially if our loonies get independence and the value of the Scottish currency plummets as expected.

    There aren't enough high tax payers in Scotland to support the current state pension payments, the benefits paid to SNP voters and ferries costing 3 times the original estimate and 5 years late!

     
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    As we have all said before, this is tragic for tenants, and it's unbelievable that those making the rules can't see what is going to happen when it's totally obvious.

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    They only see Independence as a singular goal and know they need the votes of renter's as no one with any financial acumen would ever vote for independence and a place in the Third World.

     
  • Franklin I

    Most LL's are pondering on the exit route and a lot are edging closer towards that decision each month.


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    With reply to Sad Landlord , They Know exactly what they are doing , They know there is Little or no opposition , and we have no representation . So they will Continue to do it because they are Raking the Money in. It is not until the 85% of Tenants who are happy start to realise that the Problems of rising rents and shortages are caused by the authorities and hold them to account . that you will see a change.

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    This is all wishful thinking, if they vote at all most tenants vote left wing. They only see the situation as it directly affects them. Most of them expect the taxpayer to make up any shortfall. The big failings are charities exploiting the situation, ripping off gullible donors, and organisations representing the sector being compromised. With big institutions muscling in on the market, which will result in a sub prime type crisis. Most small landlords prop up the market by working for very little.

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    With Reply to Edwin , Wishful thinking absolutely . But forget about Left wing ,Right Wing , or chicken wings. Lobbying Groups, Councils, and Government ignore the facts if it does not suite their agenda. No Council Will admit wholesale Selective Licence is driving Landlords Out and rents up. And the Government ignores the consequences of section 24. Or having to Buy a Property and donate to the Tenant for Life .
    The Tenants are the ones most effected by Rent increases , and Homelessness, and nothing to rent. but we are not getting the message over them . as to why . Or what they Can do.

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