Rents Frozen In Scotland From Today

[Deleted User]

The cost of landlording factors im taxation, regulation, the cost to evict, non paying tenants, repairs after property destruction, interest rates etc.  The government is the architect of high tax and regulation. Rogue tenants are emboldened by the law to stay and destroy. So applause for the government for prodding unpopular landlords with their stick. But I doubt decent tenants will be the winners from these policies im the long run.

scottishblondie

housebuyer143 said:

Not always true, it depends on the area. My rental went for the going rate and sold in a day with sitting tenants. Selling with your tenant though who is clearly not a great one will probably be hard though. 

I should have added “in my case”. I’ve taken advice from local EAs who have tenanted properties that aren’t shifting. Plus if any potential buyer wanted to review the books they certainly wouldn’t be biting my hand off to take on these particular tenants.  Glad you had a good outcome. 

tobygarrod939

My situation is similar to another poster on the thread.

I don't really have a problem with the temporary rent freeze, but the blanket eviction ban is punitive.

I am about to start a new build project, returning home after living abroad for 4yrs. I had decided to rent out my flat rather than sell it - as who knows how the move would go?

I served the tenant the 84 day eviction notice on the 10th of August, with the intent to sell the flat. The home report was completed on Friday past, fully intending for the flat to be on the market the day it is vacated as I absolutely need the money to progress the new build and satisfy the lender. 

I am very concerned that what seemed to be going smooth could now turn very sour as this announcement could very well pull the rug from under my feet. I feel that is grossly unfair, will cost me money, and is actually punitive. 

There needs to be clarity on what exactly is meant by moratorium. Is this blanket? Does this include property where the eviction notice is already taking place. What scope, if any, is there to evict a tenant?

The way Sturgeon has seemingly come across seems to leave small time landlords very open and vulnerable to abuse of the system.

user1977

tobygarrod939 said:

There needs to be clarity on what exactly is meant by moratorium. 

There will be, whenever the legislation actually comes before Parliament. Not much point speculating at the moment.

ProDave

So tell me about selling a property with a tenant i place?  I might investigate that rather than serve notice.  

Ours is a bit unusual in being a large 5 bedroom house with a tenant in place for 6 years now. Generally a good tenant and looks after the property though there was the lower rent issue during the Covid lockdown.  T show no sigh of wanting to leave.

My concern is it is a large property and not what most people would choose to buy for a rental (we did not choose it for rental it was our family home).  

Rent is currently 4.8% of house value, though that is based on value 6 years ago so will be less now.

Would you use a normal estate agent? 

Sarah1Mitty2

Selling a family home with a tenant in place isn`t going to be easy at any time, but now mortgages are higher, heating costs are higher, and for these reasons you shouldn`t bank on the value going up , I think you are making a lot of assumptions here, 6 years ago would have been a good time to sell it maybe?

Stubod

..seems reasonable to me that all shops and all other services can put their prices up to accomodate inflation, but landords are going to be banned from doing this....do they not have any costs, and why only landlords..presumably because they are an easy taget???

user1977

Stubod said:

..seems reasonable to me that all shops and all other services can put their prices up to accomodate inflation, but landords are going to be banned from doing this....do they not have any costs, and why only landlords..presumably because they are an easy taget???

Because it's a devolved area where the Scottish Parliament has jurisdiction. If you also want price controls in reserved matters, you'll need to lobby Westminster.

TripleH

Does Scotland have the right to set their own planning and Housing laws independent from Westminster?

Is there a housing strategy set out by Holyrood?(?)

Accepting that reforming housing strategy takes time, I'm not aware of wholesale amendments to change the position to ensure enough appropriate housing is being built.

I have no problem with verbal attacks and action against governments who set short-term policies when the fallacies come home to roost but it does seem harsh to impose draconian policies on those who abide by the rules as punishment.

user1977

TripleH said:

Does Scotland have the right to set their own planning and Housing laws independent from Westminster?

Is there a housing strategy set out by Holyrood?(?)

Accepting that reforming housing strategy takes time, I'm not aware of wholesale amendments to change the position to ensure enough appropriate housing is being built.

Yes, planning and housing are both devolved matters.

I won't pretend to know the full details of current government housing policy, but things like abolishing the Right to Buy some years back are certainly distinct from Westminster and can only have helped to maintain the supply of social housing.