Scotland faces a systemic and long standing housing crisis. Tenants face soaring rents, a severe shortage of affordable homes, and widespread disrepair. Right now, the Scottish Parliament is debating a Housing Bill that could transform the private rented sector. 

Across Scotland, rents have increased by 61% since 2010 (104% in Edinburgh and 81% in Glasgow). Over 240,000 tenants are stuck on social housing waiting lists, and 66% of private rentals suffer from disrepair. 

The human cost is staggering. Low-income renters—disproportionately young people, women, LGBTQIA+ individuals, people of colour, and migrants—bear the brunt of this crisis. We are in a situation now where the poorest 20% of tenants spend over half their income on rent. 

The crisis is undeniable—and the housing bill must deliver stronger protections for tenants. 

The bill as it stands would require: 

• local authorities to conduct rent assessments, and allow Scottish Ministers to designate rent control areas 
• Rent control areas would enable rent increases capped—both during and between tenancies—using a suggested formula of CPI + 1%, with a hard limit of 6%. 

It also mandates:

• consideration of eviction delays across all tenures,
• raises penalties for unlawful evictions to 36 months’ rent,
• grants tenants the right to keep pets and redecorate (under certain conditions), 
• brings in an equivalent to Awaab's law to Scotland, giving greater rights regarding repairs for social tenants
• and lets single tenants end joint tenancies.

However, the proposed rent controls are inadequate. Here is how they could be improved to adequately respond to tenants' needs.

Affordability:

• Tying increases to inflation (CPI) + 1% risks pushing rents up when they need to go down. In rent-controlled areas, hikes should never exceed inflation. 
• We need a public record of past rent prices to ensure landlords are not able to increase rent unfairly.
• Landlords should be penalised if they attempt to raise rents above local rent caps.
• There should be no exemptions to rent controls, especially none regarding built to rent.

Quality

• Rent increases need to be linked to quality with lower increases for poorly insulated (EPC D or below) or unrepaired homes.
• Tenants should also be able to withhold rent for unresolved repairs and there should be clear deadlines and fines for landlords who fail to address outstandng repairs.
• The private sector should adopt Awaab’s law, enabling with stronger rules for mould and damp and clearer consequences.

Security

• The Scottish government needs to reduce eviction grounds – many (like "intends to sell") are unfair and abused.
• Joint tenancy rights – remaining tenants should pick replacements if one leaves.
• To prevent evictions due to sales, councils and housing associations should get first right of refusal to buy properties—especially where they already own homes, helping expand social housing and enable retrofits.

Access to justice:

• The enforcement mechanisms lack teeth, and councils are being handed new responsibilities without the necessary resources to deliver them.
• Free legal help – tenants need support to challenge landlords.
• Tenants should have the right to withhold rent if landlords fail to initiate repairs in a timely fashion.