The Council of Letting Agents (CLA) and Scottish Association of Landlords (SAL) have warned that Scottish Labour’s proposed amendments to the Housing Bill would reduce the number of properties available to rent and lead to a rise in antisocial behaviour in Scotland’s communities.
The proposed amendments to introduce rent control and give tenants over three years security of tenure would over-burden the private rental sector, warns John Blackwood, chief executive of SAL: “In a time of increasing costs and regulation on the letting industry there is no evidence that rent controls are desirable or necessary.
“There is little evidence to support claims that tenants are being unfairly evicted – nearly 90% of tenancies are ended by tenants themselves.”
The Council of Letting Agents (CLA) convenor Kathleen Gell commented: “Of particular concern in relation to security of tenure is the impact on communities suffering antisocial behaviour caused by private tenants. There is insufficient protection for communities as landlords do not have enough rights to evict tenants on antisocial behaviour grounds. It is unacceptable for neighbours suffering antisocial behaviour to have to wait over three years before landlords can lawfully evict tenants.
To read the article in full visit the SAL / CLA website by clicking here.