Scotland to introduce rent controls as housing bill passed by parliament

Legislation to strengthen tenant rights and address homelessness has been passed by the Scottish parliament. 

The Housing (Scotland) Bill will introduce a series of long-term rent controls to keep tenancies affordable.

These include the designation of Rent Control Areas (RCA) by local authorities following a mandatory assessment of an area’s rental market. This means rent will be capped at CPI + 1%, up to a maximum rent increase of 6%, in RCAs.

Meanwhile, certain public bodies will have a duty to inquire about an individual’s housing situation and take appropriate action to help maintain tenancies and avoid homelessness.

The bill will also allow ministers to implement Awaab’s law by imposing timeframes on social landlords to investigate issues that are hazardous to tenants’ health with a focus on damp and mould.

>>See also: A distinct culture but familiar dilemmas: Spotlight on Scotland’s social housing sector

Awaab’s law came into force in England and Wales on 27 October 2025 and will be introduced to Scotland’s rental sector in March 2026, subject to the government’s agreement.

Housing secretary Màiri McAllan said: “Passing this groundbreaking legislation, coupled with the Housing Emergency Action Plan published earlier this month, shows just how serious we are about tackling Scotland’s housing crisis.”

The new legislation will also oblige social landlords to develop a domestic abuse policy, which Callum Chomczuk, national director of CIH Scotland, said is a “significant step towards addressing domestic abuse, the main cause of homelessness for women”.