Freezing Rents and Protecting Tenants

Emergency legislation was proposed to the Scottish Parliament yesterday to increase protection for tenants from rent rises and eviction action during the cost-of-living crisis.

If approved, this Bill will give Ministers temporary power to cap rents for private and social tenancies; effectively freezing rents to at least 31 March 2023.

Enforcement of eviction actions resulting from the cost crisis will be prevented over the same period, except in a number of specified circumstances.

The legislation includes safeguards for private sector landlords, allowing them to apply to increase rent to partially cover a limited number of specific costs including increased mortgage interest payments on the property they are letting.

Tenants’ Rights Minister Patrick Harvie said:

“The cost-of-living crisis is an emergency situation, demanding an emergency response. Even as energy, food bills and other day-to-day basics become more expensive, yesterday’s legislation freezing rents and protecting tenants from eviction will give tenants stability in their homes and confidence about their housing costs.

“People who rent their homes are more likely to live in poverty or be on low incomes than homeowners. As such they are particularly exposed to rising prices, and it is imperative that we bring in support for them urgently.

“We know that many landlords have been doing what they can to protect their tenants, but some tenants are being hit with large rent increases that are hard to justify. This legislation aims to protect all tenants from substantial increases, balancing the protections that are urgently needed for tenants with safeguards for those landlords who may also be impacted by the cost crisis.”

The proposed emergency legislation – Cost of Living (Tenant Protection) (Scotland) Bill can be found at: Cost of Living (Tenant Protection) Scotland Bill – Bills (proposed laws) – Scottish Parliament | Scottish Parliament Website.

 

Further information is also available on the Scottish Government webpages

Cost of living: rent and eviction – gov.scot (www.gov.scot)

Cost of Living (Tenant Protection) (Scotland) Bill 2022: overview – gov.scot (www.gov.scot).