The Daily Record newspaper and website says the result of a new public survey shows eight our of 10 people in favour of rent controls.

The Scottish newspaper says the survey has been commissioned by a think tank called Future Economy Scotland.

Few details of the survey were pub listed by the newspaper, and details do not appear on the think tank’s website, but the poll was conducted by YouGov and found that eight in 10 adults who expressed an opinion were in favour of greater protection for tenants.

Some 43% were “strongly supporting” rent controls and 39% say “they tend to support” them.

Rent controls are the subject of heated debate north of the border: the potential for such controls to be levied are at the heart of the Scottish Government’s new Housing Bill, which is yet to be voted on. 

It will place a duty on local councils to carry out assessments on the state of private accommodation in their area, which could lead to some districts being declared rent control zones. The legislation does not specify particular controls on landlords but says rent rises would be capped during and in-between tenancies.

The proposals were originally put forward by Green Party politicians when they were in a loose alliance with the ruling Scottish National Party. However, the Greens have been dropped from the alliance and the SNP appears to be sticking with the rent control policy.