Fact sheet: The Cost of Living (Tenant Protection) (Scotland) Act 2022

Rent pressures are real, but controlling the price of a scarce product does not create more of it. Rent controls can protect some tenants in the short term, but they do not address the shortage of homes that drives high rents. They can also weaken investment, reduce the number of properties available and make it harder for people seeking a new tenancy to find a suitable home. Evidence from schemes implemented around the world backs Propertymark’s opposition to rent controls and work to challenge and reshape the policy in Scotland.

Màiri McAllan MSP has written to the UK Government, warning that current rates are failing to keep pace with the cost of renting, increasing the risk of homelessness and placing additional strain on local authorities and temporary accommodation budgets. While housing policy is devolved, LHA rates remain reserved to Westminster. The current approach is unsustainable, and we are continuing to call for meaningful reform to ensure welfare support reflects real-world rental costs.

Fresh analysis shows that there are fewer homes available in 14 Scottish local authority areas than in 2022, despite the introduction of rent control measures. Propertymark has consistently warned that restricting rents without tackling supply and costs can create unintended consequences for tenants, landlords and the agents supporting them.

The legislation gained Royal Assent on 27 October 2025. Implementation will be staged via secondary legislation, and the UK Government has stated it will allow time for a smooth transition and engage the sector on commencement dates. Propertymark has hit the ground running, with training, events, and downloadable resources to support the sector through the most significant transition in private renting for a generation.