Renters face ‘extortionate’ rise as protections to end – Scottish Greens

Renters face “extortionate” price rises, the co-leader of the Scottish Greens has said as the First Minister confirmed protections will end in April.

The Scottish Government put in place an effective rent rise cap of 12% after a temporary rent freeze and eviction ban expired last year.

Those protections – which can be extended should the Scottish Government decide to – will come to an end in April, John Swinney confirmed.

The decision could see tenants hit with rent increases ahead of the Housing (Scotland) Bill – which would give councils the power to declare rent control zones but has yet to pass Holyrood – coming into force, which would likely be 2027.

Lorna Slater, co-leader of the Scottish Greens, urged the First Minister to rethink the decision, claiming tenants are “paying the price while private landlords are lining their pockets”.

“Right now, tenants are protected by temporary controls introduced whilst the Greens were in government,” she said.

“But these protections are set to expire in just two months, exposing tenants to extortionate rent increases.

“And despite having the powers to extend these protections, the Scottish Government has pledged not to.”

Ms Slater urged the First Minister to “do the right thing to protect tenants” by extending the measures.

But the First Minister showed no signs of changing direction.

“The temporary changes to rent adjudication come to an end on March 31,” Mr Swinney said.

“The existing arrangements will revert back to the existing legal requirements, which are based on market rents.

“I am aware of the concerns that have been raised, we know that there is a longer-term approach required on rental policy, which is why the Government is bringing forward the Housing (Scotland) Bill to support the introduction of longer-term rent controls where this is needed and justifiable.

“The Government will focus on making sure that we get that legislation through Parliament.”