What is the Housing (Scotland) Bill?
The Bill was introduced in the Scottish Parliament a year ago on 26 March 2024 with the intention to introduce a long-term system of rent controls in Scotland as well as strengthening tenant’s rights. You can view the full details here.
Where are we?
The Housing Bill has in excess of 700 amendments tabled in its current form and the list is still growing.
The Bill is currently at its Stage 2 where the lead committees consider and vote on the tabled amends. The Social Justice and Social Security Committee considered the provisions on homelessness included within the Bill over the period of 20 and 27 March. Currently, the Local Government, Housing and Planning Committee is considering the rest of amends to the Bill including the rent control and student housing provisions. The Stage 2 process is expected to end by 29 May 2025.
Stage 2 Day 1: 6 May
In this section, the main amends that were passed by the committee were -
133/90- amendment tabled by Meghan Gallacher MSP to proportionately consider of the formation and impact of rent control areas in rural areas by the local authorities in their assessments.
278 – amendment tabled by the Housing Minister, to extend the deadline for local authorities to submit their first report by 31 May 2027, so the rent control areas will come into force after that.
51/52/53 - amendment tabled by Graham Simpson MSP to extend provisions of rent controls to student tenancies. This will also bring Purpose-Built Student Accommodation (PBSA) within the scope of the Housing (Scotland) Bill.
206 – amendment tabled by Rachael Hamilton MSP to require the local authorities to define the boundary of rent control zones.
143/144/145/146 - amendment tabled by Meghan Gallacher MSP requiring the Minister to lay a statement before the Scottish Parliament on local authority’s recommendation to designate all or any part of the area of the local authority as a rent control area and the Scottish Parliament may, within two weeks by resolution agree or not.
Reaction from the industry
Since the announcement of rent controls extending to student housing/PBSA, we have received major reaction from all over UK and already sites paused for development pending the outcome of the Bill.
Stage 2 Day 2: 13 May
The committee is yet to vote on amendments relating to a 28 day notice to leave for student housing, provisions of rent control relating to CPI+1 (6% cap), rent control areas, emergency and transitionary rent control provisions and more. However, the Scottish Government has written to MSPs to indicate they intend to bring forward their own amendment for a 28 day notice period under specific circumstances.
We believe that by Wednesday, 14 May COP the committee will get to section 18 of the tabled amendments.
You can find the committee’s agenda for next meeting here.
What next?
All the amendments passed at Stage 2 in the Bill will ultimately be confirmed by the full Scottish Parliament at Stage 3; there are slim chances this Stage may come through before summer recess. If not by recess it will be Autumn before this final Stage is passed.
Consultation on exemptions from the Housing (Scotland) Bill
On the 23 April, a 12-week consultation was launched which is due to close on 18 July 2025. This includes:
- Exemptions for Build to Rent (BTR),
- Single Family Rental (SFR),
- Mid-Market Rent (MMR) sectors,
- Significant improvement to properties or landlords that have kept the rents below market rent over a period of time
- The issue of terminating joint tenancies is also included
These exemptions will be enacted via secondary legislation not in the primary Bill.
Please send your comments to us on spf@bpf.org.uk. You can view the full consultation here.
We encourage members to respond to this consultation individually as well to amplify industry voice.
