A high-profile letting agency boss in Scotland has warned that unless ministers in Holyrood change their proposed rent controls to allow for future increases, investment in the private rented sector will continue to slide.

David Alexander, CEO of DJ Alexander (main image, right), says although a statement this week by Housing Minister Paul McLennan (left) contained warm words and talk of collaboration, it included little detail on how ‘ a compromise’ was to be taken forward.

“There may well be more meetings and discussions planned but realistically we need to have action sooner rather than later,” says Alexander.

“Mr McLennan said that his government is committed to ‘rent controls measures that contribute to a private rented sector that works for tenants and responsible landlords and to investors’ and that he ‘believes that the private rented sector plays a vital role in addressing housing need’.

“Bu there are no actions to back this up other than details of further meetings and a call for a collaborative approach.”

All-tenure approach

McLennan told MSPs he would meet the Scottish Association of Landlords to discuss what its role will be in an ‘all-tenure approach’.

He said: “We will build on instances of successful joint working already in place. I urge landlords and other partners to continue to work together to explore what more can be done.”

Alexander adds: “The time for action is now rather than at some point in the future and everyone involved in the sector needs a detailed breakdown of changes to the Housing Scotland Bill and the Heating in Buildings Bill which will make investing in the private rented sector an attractive proposition in the future.”