New deal for tenants - rented sector reform proposals: consultation

Introduction

Housing to 2040 our first national strategy and route map aims to deliver our ambition for everyone to have a safe, good quality and affordable home that meets their needs in the place they want to be. This will be supported by making changes to improve the way the rented sectors operate.

Our A New Deal for Tenants: Draft Rented Sector Strategy, published in December 2021 sought views on a number of proposals for changes to improve the way the rented sectors in Scotland work. An analysis of consultation responses was published in August 2022.

Following this consultation a number of these proposals are being progressed further. Some are for the private rented sector (PRS) only, some only for the social rented sector (SRS) and some for both sectors. This paper gives further information on the following proposals being considered and which sector they would affect:

i. Rent control (PRS)

ii. Ending a joint tenancy (PRS)

iii. Greater flexibility to personalise a home (PRS)

iv. Greater flexibility to keep a pet (PRS & SRS)

v. Unclaimed tenancy deposits (PRS)

vi. Greater protections during the eviction process (PRS & SRS)

vii. Changes to social housing pre-action requirements to reflect the potential impact of domestic abuse (SRS)

This paper provides some helpful background for tenants and landlords who wish to respond to the Scottish Government's Landlord and Tenant Engagement questionnaire on rented sector reform, which is asking for views on some of the details of the proposals being looked at. The questionnaire is open for responses from Friday 29^th September until Friday 27^th October.