One of the largest letting agencies in Scotland is warning that plans by the government north of the border to introduce rent controls would be disastrous. 

The Housing Bill currently being considered by the Scottish Government shows no sign of back-tracking from rent controls, despite the fall from power of the Green Party which worked alongside the Scottish National Party to introduce the controls. 

The Scottish move comes despite a highly regarded report last week from the Institute of Economic Affairs which showed that most rent control schemes – wherever in the world they were introduced – ended up backfiring, lowering the number and quality of homes for rent.

Now the managing director of influential lettings agency Citylets – Thomas Ashdown – says: “It is unlikely that the authoritative and independent economic findings on rent controls across nations has been overlooked by the administration which begs the question as to why there has been no clear response. 

“Perhaps vote winning soundbite politics is deemed paramount with ‘rent control’ such an obvious winner but what is the point of retaining power if it comes at a cost to those it purports to serve.

“We have a housing emergency. There is an absolute duty to the people of Scotland that good intentions do not make things worse. To that end there must be clear, immediate open engagement with the facts from independent industry experts.”

Ashdown’s college – CityLets public relations manager Gillian Semmler – adds: “Census figures were widely reported in recent days, however, the real story is the stasis and then decline of the market size in recent years as indicated by the Scottish Household Survey which is compiled every year, albeit with some interruptions over the pandemic period.

“The supply in Scotland’s PRS is declining and rent controls, however well intent, have deterred landlords big and small from entering or remaining in the sector.

“With a national housing emergency declared, the question so clearly being asked is where are those who cannot afford to buy supposed to go?”