Ariane Burgess the Scottish Green MSP for the Highlands & Islands has urged the Scottish Government to support tenants by maintaining protections that are set to expire next month.
In 2022 the then Green Minister, Patrick Harvie, introduced a temporary cap on most in-tenancy rent increases.
Since the end of the cap in March 2024, there has been a temporary rent adjudication system in place, also introduced by Mr Harvie, that has kept rents down for some tenants.
At the time, the Scottish Government said that the system was to support the transition away from the rent cap to a system of permanent rent controls and to protect tenants from excessively large rent hikes.
The Scottish Government has said that these temporary restrictions will not be renewed at the end of next month.
The cost of renting a three-bedroom home in the Highlands and Islands is £866, which is an increase of 45.6% since 2010.
Ariane Burgess MSP said:
“Rents across the Highlands & Islands have skyrocketed.
“Renters have paid the price, while private landlords have lined their pockets.
“And whilst there is legislation on the way to introduce permanent rent controls at last, these won’t come into force until 2027.
“Right now, renters are protected by temporary controls that were introduced by the Scottish Greens.
“But these protections are set to expire in a matter of weeks, exposing households across the Highlands and Islands to extortionate rent increases.
“Removing these protections without replacing them would create a cliff edge that risks throwing households and families in the Highlands and Islands into financial despair.
“If the Scottish Government is serious about supporting renters then the least they can do is extend these modest measures to help support renters through the ongoing cost of living crisis.”
