Student accommodation not protected by rent controls in Housing bill

Student accommodation will not be protected by the rent controls proposed in the Government’s Housing legislation .

The Housing (Scotland) Bill is intended to give councils the powers to create rent control zones, cap cost increases at the rate of inflation plus one percentage point, and strengthen tenants’ rights.

If the legislation is passed, student housing will be exempt from those rent controls after MSPs voted against an amendment on Tuesday night.

“We have always been clear that student tenancies are not part of the mainstream private rented sector and should not be included within rent controls within this Bill”, housing secretary Mairi McAllan said.

She said it was a “significant error” that the Greens amendment was passed at stage two of the Bill’s consideration, and she cla