NEARLY one in three private tenants in Scotland struggle to pay their rent and almost half have cut back on essentials to keep a roof over their heads, a housing charity has warned.

According to a survey carried out by SafeDeposits Scotland, 47 per cent of respondents said they had been forced to cut back on food, heating, or clothing to pay their landlords, while 29 per cent reported that they had struggled to find rent money in 2025.

The charity’s head of policy Jennifer Harris warned: “Nearly one in three tenants struggling to pay their rent is not a marginal issue, it is a structural challenge for Scotland’s housing system.”

Scottish Housing Secretary Mairi McAllan responded: “This government has taken extensive action to protect tenants in Scotland, including recently introducing a national system of long-term, evidence-based rent controls, designed to help stabilise rents in areas where market rents have been increasing particularly steeply.”

Unimpressed, tenants’ union Living Rent’s chair, Barbara Welsh told the Star: “Over the last 15 years, rents have increased twice the rate of inflation in Edinburgh and more than 30 per cent above inflation in Glasgow.

“No-one has had a wage increase in line with their rent.

“Though the government has promised action, what they’ve delivered are half-baked rent controls that allow for above-inflation rent increases, do not apply to expensive build-to-rent developments and mid-market homes, and will not come into effect for at least two years.

“Tenants across Scotland need to come together, get organised and push for universal rent controls that bring down rents and apply to all properties.”