Draft Rented Sector Strategy
Key proposals such as amending the possessions procedure, elevating property and energy efficiency standards and implementing a national system of rent control are amongst topics to be discussed in the roundtables which begin 9 March 2022.
The roundtables follow the release of the Draft Rented Sector Strategy, which sets out how the Scottish Government will work with private and social landlords and tenants to provide affordable, accessible and energy-efficient homes. It outlines a range of measures to provide an accessible and affordable rented sector in Scotland.
Whilst Propertymark has voiced its support for many of the proposals, it has also stressed that some will place additional burdens and costs on landlords and therefore believe it will be detrimental to the sector.
Sessions will be held online between 10:00 — 11:30 am on:
- 9 March 2022: Reforming possessions
- 15 March 2022: Balancing rights and risks
- 23 March 2022: Ensuring affordability
Numbers for each event are limited, email Propertymark's Policy Team — [email protected] — to book a session.
The Draft Strategy is open for consultation until 15 April 2022, and new legislation, including a Housing Bill, is expected in 2023.
Neither supply nor quality of homes can be increased by imposing more regulatory restrictions on the industry and coupled with the proposed changes to grounds for possession under the Coronavirus (Recovery and Reform) Bill, we are concerned that the changes could simply be a step too far for some landlords.
The Scottish Government must consider carefully the balance of its reforms and ensure that interventions to achieve short-term objectives do not lead to market failure in the long run.
