Property industry senior says rent freezes will be ‘very difficult’ to enforce

One of the property industry’s most senior figures has criticised the Scottish government’s plans to introduce a rent freeze that will last until the end of March, and possibly beyond.

Isobel Thomson, Safeagent’s chief executive (main pic), feels that the move may have unintended consequences and that the key to effectively supporting people at a challenging time is collaboration and communication.

Scotland’s cost-of-living crisis measures, which also include a proposed evictions moratorium, come as the English government is put under pressure to introduce similar measures, including from within its own ranks.

Dover Tory MP Natalie Elphike (pictured) has written for Conservative Home, saying the extraordinary economic circumstances justify a rent freeze, a measure Ministers have dismissed in the past.

Thomson says: “There are immense cost pressures on people across the UK, so it is understandable the Scottish government wants to act boldly and decisively.  But we must not sacrifice pragmatism and we need to keep a long-term perspective..

“Rent freezes and eviction bans will be very challenging to enforce or regulate and could create perverse outcomes.

PRS exodus

“They will place additional pressure on landlords, many of whom are already considering leaving the market.  We must avoid a PRS exodus at all costs – shrinking supply is the last thing we need right now; this will reduce stability and security for tenants.

“Keeping communication open between landlords, tenants, policymakers and the wider sector is key – it’s something we saw during the pandemic as agents played a key role in supporting negotiations between all parties.

“We need more of that spirit now and a genuine willingness to work together. Divisive interventions which penalise and demonise will not help.”