Scotland’s rent adjudication system brings higher rents amid rent cap call

Scotland’s PRS is coming under intense scrutiny as data reveals a rent adjudication system which sees tenants being hit with higher rents than landlords have asked for.

An investigation by The National newspaper found that tenants were left with big rent rises after they had applied for a rent adjudication.

Now, the Scottish Greens are calling for all MSPs to support an immediate rent cap.

Between April 1 and June 31, when legislation that capped rent increases at 12% ended and tenants could ask for adjudication, Rent Services Scotland (RSS) processed 109 cases.

In 96 of these, rent officers approved increases, ranging from a modest 0.7% to much higher increases.

In 29 cases, tenants were ordered to pay more than what their landlords had sought, with 11 cases in Glasgow and nine in Edinburgh.

Tenants handed higher rents

One Edinburgh tenant who challenged a proposed rise from £801.70 to £850.70 was handed an increase to £1,280 — a 60% jump, The National reports.

And a Glasgow tenant contesting an increase from £480.17 to £505.14 was told to pay £720, a 50% rise.

Ruth Gilbert, national campaigns chair at Living Rent, called the figures ‘frankly disgraceful’, saying the system appears to penalise tenants for seeking fairness.

The adjudication process relies on comparing rents to those of similar properties in the area.

Rent controls in Scotland

However, now the Scottish Greens have announced plans to table amendments to the upcoming Housing Bill for immediate rent controls.

Green MSP Maggie Chapman, who will introduce the amendments, warned that the removal of previous protections in April has left renters vulnerable to exploitation.

She said: “We warned the Scottish government that removing protections would result in renters being punished and exploited by rogue landlords, and that is what has happened.

“The Housing Bill will provide some badly needed protections and rent controls when it comes into force, but there are a lot of people who can’t afford to wait.”

Ms Chapmen added: “The rental market is broken and already leaves far too many renters in insecure housing which can cost them over half their pay cheque.

“We need to end the exploitation and curb the powers of the landlord lobby who are only too happy to profit from so much misery.”

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