Private Housing (Tenancies) (Scotland) Bill Published

The Scottish Government has published its Private Housing (Tenancies) (Scotland) Bill, which it says will ensure tenants have more security, stability and predictability when privately renting a home in Scotland.

Proposals in the bill include:

• A more streamlined system with no confusing pre-tenancy notices, modernised grounds for repossession and easier-to-understand tenancy agreements.
• Legislation which will mean tenants can no longer be asked to leave their home simply because the tenancy has reached its end date. Landlords will have modern protection for repossessing their property, such as intention to sell or move in themselves.
• Rent increases limited to only one per year, with three months’ notice – designed so tenants will have advance notice of changes, and can budget accordingly.
• The opportunity for local authorities to implement rent controls in areas where there are excessive increases in rents and a concern about the impact this is having on tenants and the wider housing system.
• More progressive repossession grounds for rent arrears cases, as well as new repossession grounds introduced for landlords where they want to sell their property or the tenant has abandoned the property.

The bill forms a key part of the Scottish Government strategy to grow and improve the private rented sector. In response to an action set out in the strategy, Ministers set up an independent Tenancy Review Group which recommended a new tenancy. The introduction of the bill follows two full public consultations, which were undertaken as part of this process and received around 10,000 responses.

“The changes outlined in this bill will give tenants greater security and stability in their home and community,” commented Housing Minister Margaret Burgess. “It will also give landlords reassurance that their tenants will treat their property as a long-term home, rather than somewhere temporary.”

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