Current status: Answered by Mairi McAllan on 10 September 2025
To ask the Scottish Government, in light of reports that Scotland's rent adjudication system has resulted in rents raised above that which was requested by landlords, what its position is on whether the system is working as intended, and whether there are any plans to revisit this policy.
Scotland already has some of the strongest rights in the UK for tenants, and we are taking forward measures in the Housing Bill that will strengthen these protections further including the introduction of rent control.
We recognise the concerns raised about how rent adjudication currently operates, particularly the potential for rents to be set at a level greater than that proposed by the landlord. We have taken action through the Housing Bill to ensure the Rent Officer, or Tribunal, cannot raise the rent above that requested by the landlord, should the Bill be passed by Parliament.