The Scottish Government has published its Tackling Scotland’s Housing Emergency strategy, which aims to renew efforts to bring empty homes back into use, boost affordable housing delivery, and tackle issues such as damp and mould.

However, according to Propertymark, who welcome the focus on improving housing standards and tackling empty homes, it fails to recognise the vital role played by individual landlords in the private rented sector, highlighted by the sharp decline in new social housing supply.

Timothy Douglas, Head of Policy and Campaigns at Propertymark, said: “New social rented sector housing completions are down by 26% and the SNP Government continues to fail to recognise that most private rented sector homes are provided by individual landlords who are being disincentivised to stay in the market or invest as housing providers because of burdensome legislation and damaging rent control measures.”

They feel that the Government is overlooking the crucial role of individual private landlords, who supply the bulk of the private rented sector and that legislation and rent control measures deter these landlords from remaining in the market or investing in improvements.

The Housing Investment Taskforce has urged a review of property taxes, arguing that reducing them could improve mobility on the housing ladder and lower the cost of renting. 

Douglas said: “If the Scottish Government is serious about bringing down the cost of renting, then Scotland needs a taxation system that allows for housing mobility and where landlords can invest in improvements without having to raise rents significantly and pass costs on to tenants.”