MSP plans new rent controls on private landlords

“Scotland’s housing system is broken”

Who broke it?
Who is responsible for driving out landlords and inflicting misery on thousands of Scottish renters?

https://thebla.co.uk/scotlands-landlord-exodus-and-rental-market-crisis/#:~:text=Since%20May%202019%2C%20nearly%2050%2C000,179%2C516%20as%20of%20June%202023.

Since May 2019, nearly 50,000 single-property landlords have left Scotland’s private rental sector. The number of registered landlords has dropped from 228,212 in May 2019 to 179,516 as of June 2023.

Landlords need to be allowed to make a profit. That is, a net profit of around 4% would be reasonable.

I have one that is mortgage-free, I manage it myself and it should make me 3.5% after tax, if repairs are as expected (10% of rent set aside for repairs).

This is why I will never offer a tenancy to a new tenants. I will sell when tenants leave and rents will rise every year by 3% more than inflation for the foreseeable future.

The choices that I have are,

1. Operate my business as I wish.

2. Close the business.

I prefer Option 2 because I can invest the proceeds of sale elsewhere for a better return.

It would be helpful if politicians like Maggie Chapman stopped portraying landlords as some sort of villain. The private rented sector (PRS) provides homes for a huge range of people across Scotland — students, young families, working professionals, and others who, in many cases, can’t access social housing due to long waiting lists.

There’s a growing tendency from government to shift responsibility for long-term housing onto private landlords, as if the PRS should quietly become a substitute for the social rented sector. But that’s not what it was set up to do. Many landlords have invested in property as a pension alternative or to support their families — not to take on the role of a housing association. A buy-to-let investment is just that — an investment. It’s not a commitment to provide someone with a “forever home.”

Of course, tenants deserve safe, warm and well-maintained homes — and landlords are already legally required to meet certain standards. But let’s not pretend the system is toothless. Councils already have powers to deal with sub-standard accommodation: they can inspect properties, issue repair orders, enforce maintenance through the First-tier Tribunal, and even carry out emergency repairs and charge the landlord. Tenants have legal avenues to raise concerns, and those should be used and enforced.

What we really need isn’t more legislation or political grandstanding — it’s proper support and resourcing for councils to use the powers they already have. Renters don’t benefit from demonising landlords or layering on more red tape. They benefit when the existing rules are enforced fairly and consistently.

If we’re serious about fixing Scotland’s housing problems, that means building more social homes and being honest about the role of the PRS — not pushing unrealistic expectations onto private individuals and pretending that’s a solution.

So, presumably not many Scottish housing associations will be able to raise their rent then as many of the properties are in disrepair (or doesn’t it apply to them)