Landlords could be banned from increasing rent in Scotland for up to five years under plans that critics warn will distort the market and make lets more expensive.
The move to bring long-term rent control to Scotland has led to concern from industry leaders that billions of pounds in investment will be put at risk and the nation’s housing crisis will be made worse.
Patrick Harvie, the Green MSP and tenants’ rights minister, introduced the measures in the Housing (Scotland) Bill alongside Paul McLennan, the housing minister. It includes proposals for long-term rent controls that would put a cap on prices for tenancies. The measures come at a time when rents in Scotland are rising faster than almost any other country in Europe.
Local authorities
