Propertymark has issued a strongly-worded statement aimed at politicians demanding rent controls.

Labour Members of the Scottish Parliament have urged the declaration of a so-called ‘housing emergency’ as a result of the country’s record-breaking figure of 15,000 homeless or in temporary accommodation, with the number of rough sleepers on the rise.

Meanwhile, the number of homes built under the SNP-controlled Scottish Government’s social homes programme this year has plummeted by a staggering 26 per cent compared with 2022-23.

Despite the country’s rent freeze – triggered by the loose alliance of the SNP and the Green Party – Scotland has also seen a shocking 12 per cent rise in rents, a figure that is higher than any part of the UK outside of London.

Timothy Douglas, head of policy and campaigns at Propertymark, doesn’t mince his words in a statement: “It is high-time that the SNP and Green administration running the Scottish Government realise the damage the legislation that introduced rent caps has had on the private rented sector in Scotland.

“Demand for rented property is soaring, tenants are staying put and rents are rising. 

“In addition to this, landlords can only get a loan of up to £15,000 for energy efficiency improvements and in December last year the Scottish Government raised the Additional Dwelling Supplement to six per cent of the purchase price when buying a buy to let property – Scotland is now the most expensive place to invest in the private rented sector across the UK. 

‘The Scottish Government need to urgently review all taxes and costs impacting private landlords and agents in order to tackle the housing emergency and introduce policies that don’t stifle growth and bring down the cost of renting.”