SFHA response to Housing Bill

The Scottish Federation of Housing Associations (SFHA) has broadly welcomed the Scottish Government’s Housing Bill but has voiced concern about the impact of including Mid-Market Rent (MMR) in Private Rented Sector (PRS) rent provisions.  

In its response to the Local Government, Housing and Planning Committee, and the Social Justice Committee, SFHA said that it had engaged extensively with housing association members on the Bill and supported important provisions on preventing homelessness as well as on domestic abuse.  

However, following a survey of housing associations who provide MMR homes, they found significant concerns that if rent controls were applied to these tenancies then it would likely make developing more MMR homes ‘unviable’.   

The deadline for responses has been extended until 24th (Friday), therefore members are welcome to use SFHA’s submission to inform any responses they may also wish to make. You can respond here and read SFHA’s full response here.  

Evidence is also being requested on the accompanying Financial Memorandum, which sets out what Scottish Government believe to be the estimated costs of the provisions. SFHA are collating evidence on this and we'd be really grateful if members could submit any views or evidence related to the estimated financial implications of rent controls in the Bill, to Policy Lead Annabel Pidgeon apidgeon@sfha.co.uk This survey has a deadline of June 4th and the questions are available to view here: https://yourviews.parliament.scot/finance/housing-bill-fm/