Generation Rent has called on all political parties in Scotland to support a manifesto pledge that would grant renters the last two months’ rent free if they face no-fault evictions. This proposal forms part of a wider campaign addressing Scotland’s ongoing housing crisis ahead of the Scottish Parliament elections in May 2026.

Addressing Scotland’s Housing Emergency

In its recently launched “Standing Up for Renters in Scotland” manifesto, Generation Rent highlights the severity of the housing emergency in Scotland. Over 100,000 households remain on social housing waiting lists, while more than 17,000 are living in temporary accommodation—the highest recorded figure. The shortage of affordable homes has driven a significant increase in private renting, with the number of households renting privately nearly tripling from 1999 to 2022, reaching 320,000.

This surge in demand has pushed average rents up by over 60% since 2010, placing considerable financial pressure on tenants. Generation Rent emphasises that while Scotland has led the UK in enhancing tenant rights and protections, political parties must adopt more ambitious measures to ensure private renters have access to safe, secure, and affordable housing.

Proposal for Two Months’ Rent-Free Compensation

Generation Rent draws attention to the financial burden of eviction, estimating that an unwanted move costs the average private renter household in Scotland £2,041. To mitigate this, the group urges the next Scottish government to strengthen protections against ‘landlord need’ evictions—situations where landlords seek to repossess properties to sell or for personal use.

The proposal includes a protected period during which such evictions would be prohibited for at least the first 12 months of a tenancy. Following this period, landlords would be required to provide a minimum of four months’ notice before eviction. Additionally, Generation Rent advocates for relocation relief, offering tenants two months’ rent free if the landlord decides to sell the property. They argue that the financial gain landlords receive from property sales would outweigh the cost of providing this rent-free period.

Support for Rent Controls and Landlord Register Updates

Generation Rent also calls on political parties to uphold Scotland’s rent cap, established under the Scotland Housing Act. This legislation limits annual rent increases in designated rent control areas to Consumer Prices Index (CPI) plus 1%, capped at a maximum of 6%. Local councils are tasked with assessing rent conditions and submitting proposals for rent control zones to the Scottish government by 31 May 2027.

Despite this support, evidence suggests that rent controls have not effectively curbed rent rises in Scotland. Reports indicate that landlords have increased rents at a faster rate than elsewhere in Great Britain, partly attributed to the effects of rent controls.

Furthermore, Generation Rent urges an update to the Scottish Landlord Register to include detailed information on landlords’ compliance with key standards. This would cover energy efficiency ratings, gas and electrical safety certifications, records of fines, tribunal cases, deposit disputes, and rent data, aiming to improve transparency and accountability in the private rented sector.

What this means for landlords

If adopted, the proposals would impose stricter regulations on eviction processes and require landlords to provide compensation in the form of rent-free periods. The extended notice periods and relocation relief could increase landlords’ costs and administrative responsibilities, particularly in cases of property sales.

While rent caps aim to control affordability for tenants, landlords may face limitations on rent increases, potentially affecting rental income growth. The call for enhanced landlord register data could also increase scrutiny on landlords’ compliance with safety and operational standards, emphasising the importance of maintaining up-to-date certifications and records.

Source: Based on reporting from Property118

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