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Talks start to reform Scotland’s private rented sector

Words: Laura Edgar

The Scottish Government has launched a consultation on a ‘legislation overhaul’ of the private rented sector.

Scotland’s housing minister Margaret Burgess said the plans to reform private sector tenancy laws will remove the fear of eviction and help tenants to assert their rights.

This consultation follows an initial consultation last year.

The government is proposing to scrap the ‘no-fault’ repossession clause, which allows landlords to reclaim their property because a fixed rental term has ended.

Additionally, to protect tenants from rent increases “tenants will be able to take unjustified rent rises to arbitration", while measures might be introduced "to combat excessive increases in hot-spot areas such as Aberdeen and The Lothians".

Burgess said: “These changes to existing tenancy laws are designed to improve security for tenants and provide safeguards for landlords, investors and lenders.

“By creating a new and simplified system, we will have better property management while tenants and landlords will be provided with more clarity and a better understanding of what the tenancy agreement means for them.

“Tenants will have more security and can no longer be asked to leave their home simply because their tenancy agreement has reached its end date. They can assert their rights without fear of eviction.”

The final proposals will be put before Parliament in autumn.