RENTERS in Scotland are facing a “cliff edge” as the end of rent control has led to rents rising faster in the country than in most other parts of Britain, figures show.
Scottish Labour has accused SNP ministers of “delaying” the problems in the private rented sector instead of solving them yesterday after freedom of information (FOI) data showed that the average rent increase contested by tenants surged.
The emergency cost-of-living legislation, which saw rent prices frozen before a 3 per cent cap on increases was introduced, ended in April.
Ministers then put a 12 per cent maximum increase in place and unhappy tenants could appeal against their landlord’s notice to Rent Service Scotland (RSS).
But figures from RSS, obtained by Scottish Labour, showed the average proposed increase reported for adjudication from April 1 to July 23 was 20 per cent.
It also showed the highest rent rise imposition reported since April 1 was 186 per cent.
The same data indicated an almost four-fold increase in the number of applications received by RSS since the rent cap ended.
Scottish Labour housing spokesman Mark Griffin said: “Sadly these figures show that rather than fixing the roof with the rent freeze, the SNP just put out a bucket to catch the drips.
“Delaying a problem is not the same as solving it — the SNP’s inability to come up with a viable alternative to rent controls in time have left tenants dealing with a cliff edge of rent increases when emergency legislation ended.
“Rather than prioritising the Housing Bill so MSPs could work together on a sustainable plan, the SNP has slashed the affordable housing budget and let house-building crumble on its watch.”
Mr Griffin said that working families, young people and those on the lowest incomes stuck in the private rental sector are suffering and called on the Scottish government to “prioritise the housing emergency by developing joined-up policy so that everyone has a place to call home.”
SNP Housing Minister Paul McLennan said the RSS figures show it is important that the current extra protections are in place and welcomed that tenants are “making use of it.”
The SNP’s Housing Bill “sets out proposals for long-term rent controls seeking to stabilise rent for both existing and new tenants,” he added.
