In a move to alleviate the pressures of the cost-of-living crisis, the Scottish Parliament has voted to extend measures, including a 3% rent cap and additional eviction protections, for up to six more months.
The extensions are part of the Cost of Living (Tenant Protection) Act, first introduced in October 2022 and initially extended in April 2023. With this latest vote, the protections are now confirmed to be in place until at least March 2024.
Under the act, most in-tenancy private rent increases will remain capped at 3% for any 12-month period. As an alternative, private landlords can apply for rent increases of up to 6% in cases where they can evidence specific increases in costs. The enforcement of evictions will also be paused for six months for most tenants, except under particular circumstances defined by the act.
Additionally, tenants in the social rented sector will benefit from a voluntary agreement reached with social landlords for below-inflation rent increases for this financial year. The act also stipulates that increased damages for unlawful evictions of up to 36 months’ worth of rent will continue to be applicable.
Tenants’ Rights Minister Patrick Harvie said: “It’s almost a year since we first introduced these measures to support tenants, and the cost of living crisis is still very much with us. While essential costs for households remain high, these measures ensure the majority of tenants have much-needed stability in their rental payments while they keep the same tenancy.”
Harvie also emphasised the balanced approach of the legislation: “We’ve also included safeguards for landlords. The option of increasing rents by 6% in specified circumstances is supporting landlords to meet some of the increased costs associated with their let property. Meanwhile, the social housing sector has agreed their rents in consultation with their tenants.”
According to Harvie, this will be the final time these specific measures can be extended. “We will continue to keep them under review to make sure they are justified and proportionate based on the pressures both tenants and landlords are experiencing,” he added.
Scotland has taken a leading role in the UK for both immediate and long-term action aimed at creating a well-regulated rented sector that serves both tenants and landlords. Harvie also revealed plans for a forthcoming Housing Bill designed to deliver a New Deal for Tenants, which will include the introduction of long-term rent controls for the private rented sector.
