Propertymark has expressed disappointment at the lack of change to the Housing (Scotland) Bill after an assessment by the local government and housing directorate deemed there would be no substantial amendments introduced.

The Bill contains a package of reforms designed to “help ensure people have a safe, secure, and affordable place to live”. It is also meant to help deliver the Scottish Government’s ‘New Deal for Tenants’ and some aspects of ‘Housing to 2040’, while “contributing to the ambition to end homelessness in Scotland”.

However, Propertymark believes the Bill must be significantly amended before the Scottish Government’s policy can be achieved.

“We, along with other stakeholders, gave evidence to the local government, housing and planning committee urging the Scottish Government to better understand the PRS and review costs and taxes impacting private landlords,” a Propertymark spokesperson said.

The assessment, led by minister for housing Paul McLennan MSP, found that ‘rented households are more likely to have lower incomes and be financially vulnerable than those in other tenures’, with most paying more of their income on housing costs than owner-occupiers. 

The assessment also stated households in the rented sector are also more likely to be financially vulnerable and have less resilience to cope with financial shocks.

Propertymark said: “Based on their sweeping analysis of renters, and, as they state, the limited available evidence that does not suggest that private rented sector landlords themselves are likely to be in deprivation, the assessment is quite one-sided.”

According to Propertymark, the Bill does very little to increase the supply of private rented homes with rent control as the only solution for affordability.

“Propertymark members continue to express a clear strength of feeling against rent control. We assert that these proposals should be dropped in favour of other actions to tackle affordability, like ensuring an adequate housing supply that meets increasing demand and tackling existing income and wealth inequalities,” the trade body said.

Propertymark also expressed the view that the current tax burden on landlords impedes improvement in the sector, and there is no incentive to invest.