An amendment to the Housing Bill will set out how rent increases will be capped in areas where rent controls apply, subject to the approval of Parliament.
In response to stakeholder feedback, rent increases would be limited to the Consumer Price Index (a measure of inflation) plus 1%, up to a maximum increase of 6%. If approved, the rent cap will apply to rent increases both during the term of a tenancy and in between tenancies, and will only apply in areas where rent control is applied.
Where it applies, the rent cap will stabilise rents – supporting tenants and helping to tackle poverty, whilst providing appropriate protection for the property rights of landlords and supporting investment.
A consultation in Spring 2025 will seek views on how powers that allow exemption from rent controls or rent increases above the cap could be used by Scottish Ministers.
I’m Graeme’s Parliamentary Assistant based at Holyrood, but I support his constituency work as well. Having been Caseworker to an Aberdeenshire MP some years prior, joining Graeme's team in 2019 was a return to this line of work from a role in fundraising.