Greens to force vote on immediate rent control measures
The Scottish Greens have urged MSPs from all parties to back plans for immediate rent control measures to protect renters from brutal hikes.
The plans, which will be tabled as an amendment for the upcoming debate on the Housing Bill, would provide immediate support and stability for tenants in the period before other measures in the Bill can take effect.
In 2022 the then Green Minister, Patrick Harvie, introduced a temporary cap on most in-tenancy rent increases. Since the end of the cap in March 2024, there had been a temporary rent adjudication system in place, also introduced by Mr Harvie. This potentially allowed rent increases to be limited to no higher than 12% if a tenant applies to a rent officer for a decision.
The SNP chose to end these protections in April 2025, putting tenants across Scotland at the mercy of a broken housing market.
In the time since, the Scottish Greens and tenant group Living Rent have documented cases of renters facing huge hikes far and beyond market rate, with some landlords proposing above 30% rent increases, and some up to 88%.
Green MSP Maggie Chapman, who will be introducing the amendments, said:
“We warned the Scottish Government that removing protections would result in renters being punished and exploited by rogue landlords, and that is what has happened.
“The Housing Bill will provide some badly needed protections and rent controls when it comes into force, but there are a lot of people who can’t afford to wait. We will be introducing amendments to restore protections immediately and halt the astronomical hikes that are being forced on people and families all over Scotland.
“The rental market is broken and already leaves far too many renters in insecure housing which can cost them over half their pay cheque. We need to end the exploitation and curb the powers of the landlord lobby who are only too happy to profit from so much misery.
“The Scottish Government says it is committed to long-term rent controls, but if this is the case, why are they giving landlords the opportunity to hike rents in advance of the controls coming into place?
“I hope that MSPs from all parties will support their constituents and back our plans to provide immediate protections so that we can finally begin to cut costs and provide the stability and peace of mind that so many are desperate for."