Scottish Government announces relaxation of Rent Freeze

The Scottish Government has announced a relaxation to its current rent freeze for the private rented sector.

Landlords will now be able to issue a rent increase notice to tenants from 1^st April 2023 up to a maximum increase of 3%.  

A rate of up to 6% is allowable where a landlord can show their property costs have increased but you will need to apply to the local council Rent Officer for approval.

For rent increase notices issued from 1 April 2023, the earliest the increase can come into force is 1^st of July 2023 as landlords are required to give tenants 3 months notice of a rent increase.

Whilst we do not agree with rent freezes or rent controls, this small concession is to be welcomed.  We hope the Scottish Government will see that rent controls have the opposite effect: they end up driving landlords out of the sector, reducing the supply of rented properties and ultimately driving up rents.