The average rent for a two-bedroom home in Scotland has increased by over 14%, reaching an average of £841 – an extra £105 per month compared to the previous year – as landlords try to cover increasing costs and prepare for the impact of new legislation.

Today, 2 November 2023, the Opinion of the Hon Lord Harrower was released on Propertymark’s joint Judicial Review Petition, alongside the Scottish Association of Landlords and Scottish Land & Estates, that challenged the Scottish Government’s rent control and eviction ban under the Cost of Living (Tenant Protection) (Scotland) Act 2022.

Rt Hon Michael Gove MP reiterated the tone of the UK Government’s response to the Levelling Up, Housing and Communities Committee, published Friday 20 October, with repeated references to balancing the needs of tenants and landlords in the progress of the Renters (Reform) Bill through the UK parliament.

Without introducing measures that tackle tenant demand and landlord costs, property standards will reduce, landlords will leave the sector and rents will rise. This has been evidenced when rent controls have been implemented across Europe and the United States and is currently the case in Scotland.

Scotland's First Minister, Humza Yousaf, MSP, renewed the commitment to introducing long-term rent controls and new tenant rights under the Scottish Housing Bill, set to be enacted in 2024, plus, under the current cost-of-living measure, emergency rent caps and a moratorium on evictions will remain in place until 31 March 2024.

Landlords could have asked for more in nearly 30% of rent increase cases, according to research into English First-Tier Tribunal decisions in the second quarter of 2023.

Continued rising costs for landlords that impact increasing rent levels for tenants and the mismatch between supply and demand are exacerbated by the ongoing regulations.

Following the enactment of Sections 1-6 of the Private Tenancies Act (Northern Ireland) 2022 in April 2023, the Department for Communities outlined they'd be consulting on Sections 7-12 and have now opened a survey on Section 12 that gives the Department power to make regulations to ensure a private landlord offers a choice of payment to a tenant.

The Welsh Government has launched a Green Paper Consultation seeking views and evidence to help them understand the rental market, in particular, what factors influence landlord behaviour in setting rents and taking on tenants and what tenants consider is an affordable and adequate property.

The Scottish Government has announced today that they intend to extend the Cost of Living (Tenant Protection) (Scotland) Act Regulations beyond 30 September 2023 for an additional six months.

Patrick Harvie MSP, Minister for Zero Carbon Buildings, Active Travel and Tenants’ Rights, has again asked Propertymark to provide evidence on the controversial Cost of Living (Tenant Protection) (Scotland) Act 2022. For the third time, we surveyed members in Scotland and were unsurprised to see the disturbing effect that is taking place.

Propertymark’s joint action with the Scottish Association of Landlords and Scottish Land and Estates was heard in the Court of Session in Edinburgh, Scotland’s highest civil court, on Thursday 4 May 2023.

Following the Scottish Government’s decision to develop a rent cap and moratorium on evictions without proper consultation, Propertymark, along with the Scottish Association of Landlords and Scottish Land and Estates, are challenging these policies in court and encouraging letting agents and landlords to pledge their support.

MSPs voted to approve the amendment to the Cost of Living (Tenant Protection) (Scotland) Act 2022 Act which means from 1 April 2023, the rent cap for private sector tenancies will increase to 3%. The extension to the pause on evictions will carry on until 30 September 2023 with the option to extend for another six-month period if required.

When agents and landlords supply the Valuation Office Agency (VOA) with rental data, they are contributing towards improving the quality of government data which helps landlords and tenants make accurate and informed decisions.

Following evidence sessions with tenant representatives, sector organisations including Propertymark and Patrick Harvie MSP, the Minister for Zero Carbon Buildings, Active Travel and Tenants’ Rights, a majority of MSPs on the Scottish Parliament’s Local Government, Housing and Planning Committee voted to extend the rent cap and moratorium on evictions under the Cost-of-Living legislation to at least 30 September 2023.