Good intentions alone do not house people – SAL

The Scottish Parliament is back in session following the recent election and, while much of what is and will be happening in Holyrood will be of keen interest to Scotland’s private rented sector (PRS), the appointment of a new Cabinet Secretary for Housing is undoubtedly the most significant development for our industry.

On behalf of the Scottish Association of Landlords (SAL), I am pleased to welcome Shirley-Anne Somerville to the housing brief. She is an experienced MSP and minister who has built a reputation for engagement, professionalism and a willingness to work constructively with stakeholders. Those qualities will be essential in the months and years ahead.

It also falls to me to thank the outgoing Cabinet Secretary, Mairi McAllan, for her work in the role. From the perspective of Scotland’s landlords, we found her approachable, open and willing to listen. Importantly, she also helped begin the process of rebuilding trust between the Scottish Government and the PRS.

When Mairi McAllan took on the housing portfolio, there was much discussion about the need for a “reset” in the relationship between government and landlords. It is my view that she made meaningful progress towards that goal.

That is where Ms Somerville must begin.

At a time when Scotland continues to face a housing crisis, it is imperative that everyone involved in housing works together. That means government, local authorities, housing associations, developers, investors, tenants and landlords engaging on an equal footing, with mutual respect and a shared determination to increase the supply of homes.

There is broad agreement across the political spectrum that Scotland needs more housing. We need more homes for purchase, more social housing and more homes available for rent.

For the PRS, that means creating an environment in which landlords feel able to remain in the market, expand their portfolios and continue providing quality homes to the hundreds of thousands of people who rely upon them.

The reality is that Scotland has seen a significant number of landlords leave the sector in recent years. The consequences of that are plain to see. Fewer landlords means fewer homes available to rent. Fewer homes means greater competition among tenants.

The new Cabinet Secretary is experienced enough to know that she will hear competing arguments from a wide range of organisations and campaign groups. Some will continue to argue for ever more regulation, additional rent controls and further restrictions on landlords. Many of these proposals are advanced with good intentions, but good intentions alone do not house people.

If policies discourage investment or drive providers out of the market, the end result is fewer homes for tenants. That is not a victory for anyone.

At SAL, our ambition is straightforward. We want a thriving, professional PRS that works for both landlords and tenants. We want Scotland to be an attractive place to invest in housing. We want high standards, stable tenancies and a healthy supply of homes.

To achieve that, we must move beyond the outdated narrative that presents renting as a battle between landlords and tenants.

For too long, parts of the debate have been dominated by the notion that the interests of landlords and tenants are somehow fundamentally opposed. It may make for an effective protest slogan, but it bears little resemblance to reality.

Landlords are businesspeople providing an essential service. Tenants are our customers. The relationship is not adversarial; it is interdependent. Successful landlords depend upon satisfied tenants, just as tenants depend upon responsible landlords who maintain properties and provide secure homes.

When that relationship works well, everyone benefits. Tenants enjoy stability and quality accommodation. Landlords enjoy long-term occupancy and sustainable returns. Communities benefit from investment and well-maintained housing stock.

That is the vision SAL will continue to champion, and it is one we hope the new Cabinet Secretary will embrace. Scotland’s housing challenges are too serious to be solved through division or ideology. They will only be addressed through partnership, pragmatism and a clear focus on increasing the supply of homes.

If we can achieve that, the PRS can play a central role in delivering the housing Scotland needs.