New strategy for Scotland’s rented sector
Rented sector strategy will be part of a major new housing publication written by the Scottish government apparently looking to improve accessibility, affordability and standards, as part of a new 20 year route map for housing to be published next week.
The Rented Sector strategy will be a key element of Housing to 204. Scotland’s first long-term housing plan which will set the path for how homes and communities should look and feel in 2040. It will specifically address private and social rent and agricultural tenancies, to ensure an affordable, quality sector offering choice to meet people’s needs.
Tenants will be closely involved in the development of the strategy with a national network of social rented tenants developed alongside a Tenant Participation Panel.
Housing to 2040 will also include a proposal for a new Housing Bill, to be introduced early in the next parliament, in order to take forward further reforms in the rented sector and increase the rights of tenants.
Speaking at the Chartered Institute of Housing’s virtual Scotland’s Housing Festival 2021, Housing Minister Kevin Stewart said:
“Housing to 2040 sets out Scotland’s approach to improving the nation’s housing over the next two decades, and making improvements in the rented sector is a vital part of that.
“It will set out our plans to develop a new Rented Sector strategy that will improve accessibility, affordability and standards across the whole rented sector, so we can increase affordability and quality of choice when finding a home.
“In the private rented sector, we need to address the economic impacts of the pandemic and ensure homes are affordable now and in the long term. Local authorities need to be able to tackle unreasonably high rents, so we will also reshape the existing Rent Pressure Zone legislation to make it an effective tool for them to use.
“Subject to the outcome of the election, we will make sure this is in law by bringing forward a new Housing Bill early in the next parliament, which will also strengthen the rights of tenants with greater protections from unreasonable rent increases and unfair evictions.”
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Member Since February 2018 - Comments: 627
11:36 AM, 10th March 2021, About 5 years ago
““In the private rented sector”, reading the Minister’s statements and their totally imbalanced nature, suggests there will be no private sector other than the provider of the capital asset, the PRS will simply be an arm of the executive.
Member Since July 2013 - Comments: 754
11:53 AM, 10th March 2021, About 5 years ago
“Tenants will be closely involved in the development of the strategy with a national network of social rented tenants developed alongside a Tenant Participation Panel.”
What about landlords?
“Subject to the outcome of the election, we will make sure this is in law by bringing forward a new Housing Bill early in the next parliament, which will also strengthen the rights of tenants with greater protections from unreasonable rent increases and unfair evictions.”
Will there still be a PRS in Scotland? Another imbalanced initiative, aimed at vote chasing but likely precipitating more landlords out of the sector.
Member Since November 2015 - Comments: 82
12:07 PM, 10th March 2021, About 5 years ago
The PRS is already heavily legislated and protection of tenants is already excessive in many levels removing almost all rights from the landlord. So it really is concerning with their rhetoric of further rights for tenants and only tenants will be part of this new plan/consultation. Why are landlords not part of the consultation to create a balance outcome?
In relation to the standard of housing, there is very little a landlord can do when a property in good standard was let to a tenant who subsequently trash it to a unacceptable standard. How is that going to be addressed or is it not going to be addressed but instead continue the current rhetoric of blaming the landlord? Until there is a ‘balance’ approach to tackle issues with tenants ‘as well’, certain tenancies will continue to have issues with the perceived acceptable ‘standards’ no matter how many more unfair & imbalance plans and bills are introduced. It is missing the point in some cases.
Member Since November 2015 - Comments: 15
3:58 PM, 10th March 2021, About 5 years ago
In Scotland there are already laws in place for unfair eviction and high rent increases, brought in by the SNP few years ago. A Labour MSP wants to bring in legislation to stop any rent increases during the period of the tenancy. Only in PRT not social or council tenancies. The lunatics are defiantly taking over the asylum (Scottish Parliament).
The best we can hope for is the current bunch of incompetents are removed in May but it looks like the other parties hate the private rented sector too.
Member Since June 2014 - Comments: 325
6:00 PM, 10th March 2021, About 5 years ago
The PRS in Scotland is more highly regulated than the remainder of the UK with stronger “protection” for tenants. Very worrying what more changes may be introduced to make operating in this sector yet more challenging!
Member Since December 2015 - Comments: 828
10:10 PM, 10th March 2021, About 5 years ago
all politicians are welfare scroungers