Political Conferences Highlight Housing Challenges in Scotland

The 2026 party conference season in Scotland is underway, with the Scottish Conservatives, Liberal Democrats, Greens, and Scottish Labour all holding or currently holding their events. These conferences are especially significant this election year, as they shape party policies and manifestos that will influence Scotland’s housing future.

John Blackwood, chief executive of the Scottish Association of Landlords (SAL), recently spoke at the Scottish Conservative conference in Edinburgh. His engagement with delegates provided insight into the evolving housing policy landscape and the concerns of those active in the sector.

The Housing Emergency and the Role of the Private Rented Sector

Scotland is experiencing a housing emergency marked by a shortage of homes available to rent or buy, market difficulties, and challenges for people seeking suitable accommodation in the locations they need. All major parties have acknowledged these issues to varying degrees.

The private rented sector (PRS) plays a crucial role in addressing this crisis. Landlords, predominantly small and medium-sized business owners, are central to providing rental homes. Blackwood emphasises that increasing landlord investment is essential to expanding housing supply across Scotland.

Challenges Facing Landlords and the Impact of Policy

Recent years have seen a hostile political attitude towards landlords, exemplified by policies such as rent controls. While intended to protect tenants, such measures risk deterring landlords from entering or remaining in the market. This could reduce housing availability and tenant choice, contrary to the sector’s needs.

Blackwood stresses that without confidence and willingness among landlords to invest, the supply of rental homes will not increase. He calls for recognition of this dynamic by all parties as they develop their housing policies.

The Need for Clear, Long-Term PRS Strategies

A key recommendation from SAL is that political parties adopt clear, consistent strategies for the private rented sector. Landlords and tenants alike have faced uncertainty and instability due to short-term, reactive policymaking. This environment undermines confidence and hampers market growth.

Developing stable, long-term policies would help build trust and encourage investment, benefiting both landlords and tenants. Blackwood offers SAL’s extensive expertise and institutional knowledge to assist parties in shaping effective PRS policies.

Collaboration as the Way Forward

Blackwood concludes with a call for cooperation: “Scotland is in the middle of a housing emergency, we all agree on that, but it is fixable, and it is fixable only if we work together.” He invites political parties to engage directly with the PRS sector to ensure their manifestos reflect practical, supportive measures.

This approach aims to deliver a private rented sector that works for landlords and tenants alike, helping to alleviate Scotland’s housing shortage.

What This Means for Landlords

Landlords should monitor the development of party manifestos closely, as forthcoming policies will impact the PRS environment. Engagement with landlord associations like SAL can provide opportunities to influence policy and advocate for measures that encourage investment and market stability.

Understanding the political landscape and contributing to policy discussions will be increasingly important as Scotland seeks solutions to its housing emergency.

Suggested internal link anchors

• private rented sector
• housing emergency Scotland
• landlord investment
• rent controls impact
• Scottish Association of Landlords
• housing policy Scotland
• tenant choice
• long-term housing strategy
• Scottish political parties housing
• landlord confidence

TLA update

TLA is launching a new Trusted Partners Hub in Q1 2026, featuring verified and approved service providers selected to support landlords, tenants, and property management businesses. We are inviting legal, trades, insurance, financial, mortgage, tenant screening, and other service providers to register their interest here: https://landlordassociation.org.uk/become-a-tla-service-partner/