Cost of Living (Tenant Protection) Scotland Bill
The Bill makes changes to the law by:
- temporarily restricting landlords from increasing the amount of rent they can charge on residential tenancies
- temporarily placing certain restrictions on evictions from residential tenancies
- allowing for Scottish Ministers to make regulations about matters a rent officer or a First-Tier Tribunal must consider in determining rent.
The Bill was passed on 06 October 2022 and became an Act on 27 October 2022
Contents
Overview
Overview
The Bill temporarily changes the law to restrict landlords from increasing the amount of rent they can charge on residential tenancies. This change would also apply to student residential accommodation. There are exceptions for landlords experiencing increased property costs, such as mortgage interest or service charges in relation to their leased property.
Additionally, the Bill places certain restrictions on evictions from residential tenancies. There are exemptions for landlords, including where a landlord is experiencing financial hardship.
Most of the changes in the Bill will expire at the end of 31 March 2023 unless the Scottish Ministers extend them by regulations. They can be extended to 30 September 2023 and then again to 31 March 2024.
The Scottish Ministers are also required to report on the changes about every three months.
The Bill also allows the Scottish Ministers to make regulations about matters a rent officer or a First-Tier Tribunal must consider in determining rent. This change is set to end on 31 March 2024 unless the Scottish Ministers uses regulations to extend it. There is no limit to the number of times it can be extended but can only be extended for a up to a year at a time.
Read more about what this Bill does in the explanatory notes (182KB, pdf) posted 03 October 2022