Rented sector strategy paper goes out to views

Further rent controls in the private sector, stronger protection against illegal eviction, and possible greater freedom to keep a pet are among a set of proposed new measures to support housing tenants put out to consultation by the Scottish Government.

The measures form part of the Housing to 2040 strategy, published in March this year, and take forward several commitments made in the co-operation agreement with the Scottish Green Party. Ministers say the proposals "aim to deliver a fairer rented sector that meets the needs of tenants and welcomes responsible landlords".

Plans include:

• increasing penalties for illegal evictions and stronger enforcement;
• restricting evictions during winter, and making permanent the conversion of all grounds for eviction of private sector tenants to discretionary rather than mandatory;
• seeking ways to give tenants greater flexibility to personalise their homes and keep pets;
• developing a national system of rent controls for the private rented sector, based on data on rents to be reported by landlords;
• introducing a new Housing Standard to apply to all homes;
• establishing a private rented sector regulator to uphold these standards and ensure the system is fair for both landlords and tenants;
• setting minimum standards for energy efficiency, making homes cheaper to heat while contributing to Scotland’s climate change targets.

The paper also explores ways to increase participation by private sector tenants, including people with protected characteristics, in local and national policy and decision making; and ways to increase awareness of rights, and provide advocacy and advice to people seeking to exercise their rights before the First-tier Tribunal.

The results of the consultation will feed into the final version of the strategy to be published next year, with elements of the proposals being put to the Scottish Parliament in a Housing Bill in 2023.

Tenants’ Rights Minister and Green MSP Patrick Harvie commented: "Now is the time to do more for people who rent their homes, whether they are renting privately, from the council or from a housing association. Delivering a new deal for tenants is central to our ambitions for a fairer Scotland, tackling child poverty and meeting climate change targets.

"Above all else it will significantly improve the lives of Scotland’s tenants, giving them more stability, more choice over where they live and how they decorate their homes, and the confidence that their home will be of a high quality. At the same time it will recognise the interests of good quality, responsible landlords.  

"We will be working in partnership with landlords, letting agents, tenants and others to deliver this strategy, and we want to gather the broadest range of views. I would encourage anyone with an interest to respond to our consultation."

Click here to access the consultation. Responses are due by 15 April 2022.