Letting professionals in the private rented sector (PRS) have been reporting worryingly low stock property levels for some time now, and the Scottish Association of Landlords (SAL) is concerned that the already difficult situation is only going to get worse in the months and years to come, leaving hundreds of renters high and dry.
Scotland’s largest landlord membership organisation has conducted a survey of 635 of its members with a collective portfolio of 4,214 properties, and found that 34% of private landlords are planning to reduce the number of homes they rent out in the next ten years.
SAL warned that this could lead to a cut of more than 36,000 properties available for rent across Scotland, and that’s based on assumption of a modest reduction of just one property per landlord.
When asked about the motives for their intention to reduce the number of let properties, the respondents quoted increased regulation of the PRS (62%) and perceived hostility from the government (60%) as most common reasons.stock
Damaging ‘anti-landlord rhetoric’
SAL is calling on the Scottish Government to put a stop to ‘demonising landlords’ as this will only lead to more housing shortages, and instead increase investment in the PRS and build more homes for social rent too.
John Blackwood, Chief Executive of SAL, said: “The private rented sector plays a key role in providing good quality housing in Scotland. Those who think anti-landlord rhetoric is doing any other than making it harder for people to keep a roof over their heads are kidding themselves.”
He continued: “Our members are very clear. Demonising landlords is leading to fewer homes being available to rent in the coming decade.”
Increased strain on social housing
Another study, complied by the University of Glasgow, has revealed that the majority of tenants whose landlords would decide to sell, would not be able to afford a home of their own, hence would be relying heavily on social housing and homelessness services.
John Blackwood commented: “We also know that many renting tenants are normally not in a position to access home ownership. Tenants who cannot access the private sector will only pile pressure onto already strained social housing and homelessness services.”
Mr Blackwood believes that the only possible solution to the housing crisis is increasing the supply of rented accommodation.
He explained: “The Scottish Government needs to support private landlords and encourage investment in the private rented sector while also building more social homes to rent and doing that a lot faster. Otherwise far from tackling Scotland’s current housing crisis, we will only see it get worse.”
