Emergency legislation to freeze most rents until the end of March 2023 has been passed by the Scottish Parliament.

The approved Cost of Living (Tenant Protection) Bill will be the first bill passed by Holyrood to be given Royal Assent by King Charles III.

The temporary legislation caps rent increases at 0% until March 31 and will be backdated to 9 September.

Tenants’ Rights Minister Patrick Harvie said it would support tenants through the current cost of living crisis.

The legislation, which was fast-tracked through the Scottish parliament’s scrutiny process, can be extended over two further six-month periods.

Harvie said: “I am pleased that Parliament has passed this bill to support tenants through the current cost-of-living crisis.

“People who rent their home are more likely to live in poverty or be on low incomes than other people, and many will be anxious about keeping up payments on their homes as their everyday expenses rise.”

He continued: “With this Bill now set to become law, tenants in the social or private rented sector, or in student accommodation, will have stability in their homes and housing costs.

“I’m hugely grateful to MSPs for scrutinising and agreeing this legislation this week, ensuring these protections can be brought in with the urgency that this crisis demands.”

However, concerns were raised by Conservative MSPs who said a rent freeze would lead to a shortage of homes to rent.

Meanwhile, Sally Thomas, chief executive of the Scottish Federation of Housing Associations, said the cap on social housing rents would be “unnecessary” and “counterproductive”.

She commented: “We will continue to make the case as to why this legislation must not continue after 31 March 2023.

“A rent freeze beyond this date would threaten our members’ ability to build, improve and maintain existing homes and deliver vital support services to tenants.”

Tom Mundy, COO at Goodlord, is concerned that the rushing through of this rental freeze will have long-term consequences.

He commented: “We are seriously concerned that the Scottish government hasn’t taken the time to fully consider the impact of this decision, with this legislation likely to continue pushing landlords out of the market at a time when rental housing stock is low and tenant demand is growing rapidly.

“Most landlords have just one or two properties and many are now facing rising mortgage rates and inflationary pressures. A rental freeze will be the final straw and drive a huge number out of the sector for good. This is a time of acute pressure for the market and action does need to be taken to protect tenants and landlords during such a difficult time. But freezing rents isn’t the answer. Instead, it risks creating the perfect storm.”