Cautious welcome for Housing Bill from rural business sector

Press Release

Rural business organisation Scottish Land & Estates (SLE) has given a cautious welcome to the Housing Scotland Bill, passed by the Scottish Parliament last night (September 30).

The Bill has been subject to intense scrutiny, with about over 1000 amendments debated since March 2024.       

While endorsing some key amendments to be accommodated in secondary legislation, such as exemptions from rent control measures for Build to Rent and Mid-Market Rent homes, SLE urged the Scottish government to provide greater clarity for tenant farmers and to provide more detailed plans for rent control areas, to help prevent an exodus of housing providers from the rental market.

SLE is also concerned about the treatment of off-grid properties, should they fall within a rent control area.

Anna Gardiner, Senior Policy Adviser (Business & Property) for SLE, commented: “We welcome the efforts of MSPs from all political parties to make the Housing (Scotland) Bill workable for tenants, housing providers and developers. 

“However, there is still a lot of uncertainty about which properties might be exempt from rent control areas and how some parts of the Bill will work in practice. We urge the Government to clear up this uncertainty quickly and to make sure that local and regional differences are properly considered, as well as the needs of off-grid tenants and tenant farmers. 

“A proportionate and flexible approach to the private rented sector is essential to maintain both strong tenant protections and a sustainable supply of homes, particularly in rural areas where the market is already fragile. We believe more should be done to secure a sustainable, fair, and resilient private rented sector that meets the needs of both tenants and landlords throughout Scotland.”

SLE notes that rural landlords face higher costs and greater operational challenges compared with housing providers in urban areas. In addition, overregulation risks driving responsible landlords out of the rental sector, exacerbating housing shortages and harming tenants. 

Amendments proposed by SLE, with the support of the Tenant Farming Advisory Forum, would have delivered clear benefits for all parties involved, including local authorities, tenant farmers, residential tenants, and owners.

Anna Gardiner concluded: “We welcome the Cabinet Secretary’s commitment to look into the potential impact of the Bill on tenant farmers. We would also urge the Scottish government to conduct a rural impact assessment before introducing future legislation and to recognise that there is a huge diversity of rental property in rural areas, which means a coordinated approach is required to achieve a fair and balanced Bill.”

SLE members provide around 13,000 affordable homes for rent in rural Scotland, supporting rural economies and sustaining community life.