Living rents are necessary for social justice. They should reflect the value of the property. They should be capped by a rent affordability index. Indefinite tenancies should be the norm. Hardship should be a defence in relation to evictions. Initial rents should be set against a points system to reflect the value of the property. Rent increases should be capped at a rent affordability index. Create a Scottish Living Rent Commission to oversee these principles.
Initial rents should be set against a points system to reflect the value of the property. Rent increases be capped at a rent affordability index to ensure increases do not push tenants into hardship. A move towards indefinite tenancies as default, away from short-term contracts. Ensure that all tenants are entitled to a hardship defence in relation to evictions. Create a Scottish Living Rent Commission, to oversee these recommendations and to serve as a centre of expertise for the Scottish Private Rental Sector.
Rents in Scotland are increasing faster than many tenants can afford, and many are being forced into poverty by these increases. Women are particularly hard-hit by high rents due to a gender pay gap of almost 18%. PRS tenants are disproportionately young, non-white and non-British, meaning there is a crucial equalities aspect to making the PRS fairer. High rents, insecure tenancies and poor quality housing have an enormous public cost; directly through housing benefit and discretionary housing payments; and indirectly through the costs associated with homelessness and the health impacts of damp and cold housing. Scotland’s tenants are amongst the least secure in Europe.
SUMMARY OF RECOMMENDATIONS
In order to bring rents under control and to give tenants security of tenure, we propose the following changes: That initial rents be set against a points system to reflect the value of the property That rent increases be capped at a rent affordability index to ensure increases do not push tenants into hardship A move towards indefinite tenancies as default, away from short-term contracts Ensuring that all tenants are entitled to a hardship defence in relation to evictions The creation of a Scottish Living Rent Commission, to oversee these recommendations and to serve as a centre of expertise for the Scottish Private Rental Sector