The Scottish Property Federation (SPF) has renewed its warning over rent control legislation, urging for improvements in housing supply.
Speaking to 400 guests from the industry, including Scotland’s state secretary Ian Murray MP and former minister Michael Gove, SPF chair Stuart Oag called for greater collaboration between the government and the private sector.
“Unless we boost supply, we will remain trapped in a cycle of a lack of homes of all types and tenures,” said Stuart. “If we reduce supply, then we will exacerbate the structural deficiencies which currently exist, and which have led to the declaration of a housing emergency.”
Earlier this year, the Scottish parliament declared the country was in a housing crisis.
In a speech on 15th May, MSP Mark Griffin declared that every 16 minutes in Scotland a household became homeless with 10,000 children in temporary accommodation.
By declaring an emerging, the Scottish government formally recognised this problem and called for cuts to its capital budget to be reversed.
Reflecting on recent work by the Scottish government, Stuart said he was encouraged but added: “we do need to see the detail – the next few weeks’ work on the housing bill are critical and outcomes will be closely watched by the investment community to see if their red line requirements are delivered.”
