Scottish election 2026: A reset moment for the PRS

As the dust begins to settle on the 2026 Scottish elections, landlords, tenants, and everyone involved in the private rented sector (PRS) in Scotland are wondering what the results actually mean.

At the time of writing, there has been no new Scottish government formed, but it seems likely at this stage that John Swinney will return as First Minister, leading the SNP back into government. For the other parties, it will again be a case of working with or against the SNP on an issue-by-issue basis throughout the next session.

There are also the inevitable budget discussions that will have to happen. Presumably, both the Scottish Greens and Scottish Liberal Democrats, both of whom had a very good day on election day, will be vying to have influence there.

Reform UK also had a positive election, securing 17 MSPs and tying with troubled Scottish Labour for second place. Malcolm Offord’s party brings possibly the largest set of unknowns to Holyrood. Observers, including those in the PRS, will be keen to see exactly what a Scottish Parliament with Reform MSPs in it in large numbers, looks like and how it operates.

While the number of first-time MSPs and the massively changed make-up of the Parliament mean that it will take a little while to solidify and fall into a pattern, the Scottish Association of Landlords (SAL) is determined to do what we have always done.

We will work directly with MSPs of all parties for the good of Scottish housing and Scotland’s PRS.

A new Parliament is a chance for a reset. We’ll be working to encourage MSPs, their staff, the government, officials, and all other stakeholders to reframe the way they think about the PRS.

For too long, the received wisdom has been that tenants and landlords have an adversarial relationship. This has been reinforced by certain politicians and campaigns who believe that the PRS is inherently exploitative and runs contrary to their principles.

We do not agree. Across Scotland, landlords provide flexible and appropriate homes for people who need them, when they need them. Our tenants are our customers. It is not in our interests to hurt that relationship and our members pride themselves on doing everything they can to ensure that their tenants remain happy, because happy tenants remain in properties and help landlords to grow their businesses.

Whatever the next session of Parliament brings, and it is set to be quite an interesting one, SAL will be there. We will stand up for landlords and for our sector.

In closing, I make the following offer to all new and returning MSPs. At SAL, we know the PRS. We have years of accumulated experience, insight, and research, where others have pure rhetoric and axes to grind. We will work directly with you and help you to form the policies needed to challenge the existing narrative and deliver the change we need to make Scottish housing fit for the future.

Our mission is to create a PRS that works for all. As you take your seats, we invite you to join us.