Chamber and committees

Some private landlords are concerned that, in a rent control area, rent increases between tenancies would be restricted. That is where a lot of rent increases happen. Could you speak to how that might come across in the bill and, in particular, how it could affect rents in rural areas?

I absolutely agree, but tenants would not have to be so aware of their right to challenge rent increases if landlords had to justify increases in the first place. Should there not be an onus on the landlord to do that?

Therefore, the Government is not open to moving the onus on to landlords.

I just want clarification. If the local authority carries out an assessment and the data suggests that rent increases are too high in a particular area but the council is not minded to recommend a rent control area, is the minister prepared to direct one anyway?

If similar rent increases to those in Edinburgh and Glasgow were seen in other areas, would the Government seek to implement rent control areas there, as well?

It sounds like the language that is being used is different, at this point. It is about councils making proposals rather than ministers making decisions based on the reports that all local authorities have to provide. Is the bill moving more towards councils requesting rent control areas? How would that be different to measures such as the likes of rent pressure zones, which no council has managed to implement?

Why is the onus on tenants to challenge rent increases? We heard from a panel of tenants who proposed an alternative system, whereby landlords should have to apply to a third party, such as rent service Scotland, to increase the rent for their property. That would place the onus on landlords to ensure compliance, and it would improve data collection and relieve the pressure on local authorities to collect the data. What are your views on that?

If the data suggests that rent controls are required but the council is not minded to recommend that a control area be defined within its area, is the minister prepared to implement one?

Can I have something clarified?

Section 15 in part 1 of the bill will enable local authorities to request certain information from landlords to support the creation of reports. Would the minister be open to requiring landlords to provide that information as standard?