SNP vote for rent controls north of the border.

Delegates at the Scottish National Party Spring Conference have voted in favour of introducing national rent controls for all Scottish tenants, this would be quite a shake up to the buy-to-let market north of the border.

The SNP would need to win a majority in the forthcoming Scottish general election to implement these plans, if they were successfull it could mean that landlords are unable to raise rents above a cap set by the State, even when their own mortgage costs rise.

The resolution goes much further than the local rent controls in the Private Housing Tenancies Bill which is going through final stages in the Scottish Parliament this week.

Emma Saunders, an activist with campaign group Living Rent, reportedly said the vote meant there was now a “consensus” going into the upcoming Scottish Parliamentary election that far broader rent controls were “a necessary step to resolving the housing crisis”.

She further reportedly said: “For far too many private tenants in Scotland, rents are too high and the quality of housing too low. With this vote by SNP delegates, there is now a clear consensus across the board that rent controls are a sensible solution to this”.

Allen Walkey

Highly experienced businessman with a successful career in property sales and investment both in the UK and abroad. Now a freelance writer and blogger for the property and Investment Industry, keeping readers up-to-date with changes and events in a rapidly changing world.

You May Also Enjoy

to let sign 2025
Breaking News

Rental availability rises 25%

Rental availability rises 25% in Q4, pointing to slower tenant movement New analysis from Inventory Base, a leading provider of inspection and compliance technology, reveals that rental availability in England increased by 25% in Q4 2025. While seasonality will have played a role, a 15.4% year-on-year rise suggests a larger-than usual build-up of available homes.…
Read More
Estate Agent Talk

From loft insulation to lower interest rates: How energy efficiency really pays off

Homeowners could cut up to £2,000 a year from their energy bills this Energy Savers Week, by combining targeted home improvements with simple efficiency changes and, in doing so, they could improve their mortgage affordability by qualifying for a green mortgage – further boosting the savings on offer from taking a greener approach to homeownership.…
Read More
Estate Agent Talk

How homeowners can save big by going green

Homeowners could cut up to £2,000 a year from their energy bills this Energy Savers Week (19th-25th Jan), by combining targeted home improvements with simple efficiency changes and, in doing so, they could improve their mortgage affordability by qualifying for a green mortgage – further boosting the savings on offer from taking a greener approach…
Read More
Rightmove logo
Breaking News

Largest ever January price jump, as market sentiment rebounds after the Budget

The average price of homes coming to the market for sale rises in January to £368,031, a 2.8% increase from December (+£9,893). This is the largest ever price increase seen in the month of January, and the largest of any month since June 2015: National average property prices are now 0.5% ahead of this time…
Read More
Breaking News

Office space back in favour as return to workplace drives commercial demand

The latest research by BPS London has revealed that office space is currently the most in-demand commercial property asset across England, as the continued return to a physical workplace sees offices fall back in favour with British businesses. BPS London analysed investor demand across the commercial property market, assessing the proportion of available opportunities within…
Read More
Breaking News

Breaking Property News 14/1/26

Daily bite-sized proptech and property news in partnership with Proptech-X.   Latest Weil European Distress Index (WEDI) points to a materially more fragile outlook  Europe’s corporate distress picture appeared to stabilise on the surface in Q4 2025, but the latest Weil European Distress Index (WEDI) points to a materially more fragile outlook moving into 2026.…
Read More