The National Residential Landlords Association has joined with other landlord and agent bodies to seek legal opinion on whether Scotland’s rent freeze is legal.
A rent freeze for the private and social rental sectors has been approved by the SNP-Green politicians ruling the country; the freeze is to be in place for six months with possible extensions taking it to March 2024.
But now the Scottish Association of Landlords, Propertymark, the NRLA and Scottish Land and Estates are seeking independent legal opinion to test the validity of the new law which they say “breaches the individual rights of landlords”.
NRLA chief executive Ben Beadle says:“Tenants across the country are already facing a supply crisis in the private rental sector. Far from making things better, a rent freeze will mean less choice for tenants, making it more difficult for them to access the housing they need.
“A viable and thriving PRS is vital to a healthy housing market. Sadly, the actions of the Scottish Government damage this objective and will ultimately hurt tenants the most.”
And Sarah-Jane Laing, chief executive of Scottish Land & Estates - which represents some of the largest providers of housing in rural Scotland - adds: “[The Scottish Government] repeatedly claimed that the Bill achieves the balance between tenants’ and landlords’ rights to ensure legislative competence, but we do not share his views.
“The acute shortage of properties available for rent in rural Scotland is stark and such legislation will only exacerbate the situation – to the detriment of the rural economy and communities.”
The opinion of the counsel, Lord Davidson, should be known within the next month.
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It's about time our landlord associations started doing something for their members
I'm now going to join the Scottish Association but I have been less than impressed with them up until now.
Action at last - long overdue!
Everything that’s wrong with Private Rented Sector was wilful damage caused by Government.
Introducing S.24 and licensing Schemes financially robbing the Sector. Scrapping S. 21 driving out thousands of Landlords creating a shortage, now just add Stupid WHITE PAPER the final nail. The Government is not the Solution but the Problem.
You are right Michael, and the whole premise behind the White Paper, which is that there needs to be a shift in power towards the tenants, is wrong. This is evident from the fact that Landlords are pulling out of the private rental sector now or planning to do so in the near future because they are in such a weak position. The tenants already have all the power in the relationship once they have moved in - and landlords are being subjected to all these ridiculous licensing schemes, too.
Seeking legal opinion !
Yes indeed a Legal Opinion on a Rent Freeze.
Why not a Legal Opinion on the removal of Section 21,
(not even a murmur).
Micheal it's a publicity stunt, they aren't actually doing anything Write to Trus. Pointing out she is destroying mom and pops pension fund and likely to get 4 million voters abstaining!
Do you think Trus is bothered ? they have already lost the next GE
Amazing NRLA, Scotish Association of LL’s, Scottish Land & Est’s, Propertymark seek legal opinion on Rent Freeze because it seems to me it reduces their revenue take from landlords, less Rent cuts their commission take.
They have been extremely quiet on removal of Section 21,
They have been useless on removal of Section 21 - and Section 21 is the what determines if the business is viable or not! Without Section 21 the letting business is finished.
Ellie
In Scotland, where fixed term tenancies have been outlawed since 2017, many of us have stopped renting to families and there's enough other tenants around so we don't need families who would want to stay long term.
The risk to families is much greater than to Landlords but no one has warned them of this.
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