The Scottish Government, despite being in the middle of electing a new First Minister, is pressing ahead with legislation for long-term private rent controls.
Patrick Harvie, the government’s housing minister – a Green Party member, working in alliance with the Scottish National Party – has made the commitment.
In an answer to a Labour Member of the Scottish Parliament, Harvie said: “Long term rent control measures will be included in the forthcoming Housing Bill which is expected to be introduced as soon as possible after the 2023 summer recess. This will allow the Scottish Government to meet its commitment to rent controls by 2025.”
He continued: “The Scottish Government has led on housing issues whether that’s the abolition of Right To Buy, or investment in social housing, and most recently the emergency rent freeze in the light of the cost of living crisis, and our long term commitment to national rent controls.
“And I know that many Labour colleagues have great enthusiasm for that programme to continue.”
Harvie and other MSPs said they could not comment in detail on current temporary rent controls which are subject of legal action
Lettings agents’ body Propertymark – along with the Scottish Association of Landlords and Scottish Land and Estates – have submitted a Petition to the Court of Session in Edinburgh seeking a Judicial Review of the Scottish Government’s rent control and eviction ban legislation, first introduced last year.
In the petition, the three groups say they believe the law is disproportionate and unfair. This is further exacerbated by the decision to retain rent control for the private rented sector and remove it for the social rented sector from April.
Specifically, the petition highlights:
– The rent control applies irrespective of the financial position of both the tenant and landlord;
– The recent decision by the Scottish Government to remove the cap for social landlords means a well-off individual renting in the private sector is provided financial protection not available to someone in more challenging financial circumstances in the social sector;
– In the decision to remove the rent control in the social sector, the Scottish Government acknowledges the need for maintenance of these properties but has not given the same consideration to landlords in the private sector;
– The law does not make any distinction or provide relief based on different circumstances of landlords, between larger, institutional companies who might be able to shoulder increased costs, and individual landlords who cannot; and
– The eviction ban creates a delay in addressing matters such as arrears which adversely impacts landlord cash flow culminating in a reduction in capital value.
The petition further argues that by discriminating in the way it does, the law breaches the European Convention of Human Rights which states “The enjoyment of the rights and freedoms set forth in the Convention shall be secured without discrimination on any ground such as … association with … property…”