New energy efficiency demands proposed by the Scottish Government will force more people to spend longer in emergency homeless accommodation, a rental group claims.

Ministers in the SNP government are considering imposing minimum energy efficiency standards (MEES) on some rental homes from 2028 and all homes in the private rented sector by 2033.

It’s estimated this will cost £600m.

But the Scottish Association of Landlords (SAL) claims this will deter investors, force more landlords to quit the sector and reduce stock. 

In return, SAL says the measure will lower Scotland’s emissions by just 0.04%.

There is further concern that the proposals will cause extended void periods, as properties are improved, forcing some tenants into emergency homeless accommodation.

Landlords are also worried that detailed technical reports to assess options for improving properties will not be available until 2028, giving them unrealistic time to meet the implementation date.

SAL is urging policymakers to scrap these proposals and chief executive John Blackwood says: “During a housing crisis, the correct thing to do would be to make investment more attractive and remove as much friction from the housing sector as possible.

“These measures do the opposite of that; they are expensive, bureaucratic, and send the wrong signals to investors – meaning there will be fewer homes available.

“With the lack of technical reports to assess options and the clock ticking down to the deadline, landlords will have no time to arrange works to be done.

“They will also cause unacceptable delays, particularly for those moving from emergency homeless accommodation into a private rented home.

“Scotland’s landlords are urging ministers to rethink these dangerous proposals and to work with us to encourage investment and confidence in our sector.”