Propertymark renews industry call for battle against rent cap

Landlords and letting agents are urged to join the campaign against the rent cap and eviction ban in Scotland.

Propertymark is leading the charge to persuade the Government north of the border to abandon its ‘cost of living’ policies.

The Scottish Government did shift its position by dropping the planned rent freeze from April, and replacing it with a 3% rent cap for six months, with higher increases up to 6% allowed in exceptional cases.

Restrictions on evictions that were announced at the same time as a rent freeze under the  Cost of Living (Tenants) (Scotland) Act 2022, continued.

Initially introduced on 6 September 2022, the act was justified as a response to the emergency situation caused by the impact of the cost crisis on people who rent in Scotland.

The measures were intended to remain in place for a minimum of six months, with the possibility to extend for another 12 months. They have already been extended until 30 September, and Propertymark says they are likely to be extended further to March next year.

Avoid cap

A judicial review against the measures was launched in January by a coalition of campaign groups including Propertymark and the Scottish Association of Landlords.

Propertymark recently revealed that landlords were increasing rents between tenancies to avoid the rent cap.

Timothy Douglas (main picture), Propertymark’s head of policy and campaigns, says: “Recent decisions made by the Scottish Government to cap rents and ban evictions have not taken into account the increased costs on landlords and the impact this is having on the viability of continued investment in the private rented sector in Scotland.

“Now more than ever the property sector needs to come together and support the campaign against these measures and draw a line in the sand.”