A powerful open letter has been sent to Scotland’s leaders by a coalition of left-wing activist groups and major trade unions, urging them to introduce strict rent controls without exemptions. The signatories argue that the housing crisis in Scotland has reached breaking point and action is urgently needed to protect tenants.
The letter, addressed to First Minister John Swinney and Cabinet Secretaries Màiri McAllan and Shirley Anne Somerville, has been signed by well-known organisations including the Scottish Trades Union Congress (STUC), UNISON Scotland, Unite Scotland, GMB, RMT Scotland, UCU Scotland, and PCS Scotland. Together, they represent thousands of workers and campaigners across the country.
At the heart of the letter is a strong plea to the government not to bow to pressure from landlord lobbyists who, they say, are working to water down the promised rent controls. The signatories warn that introducing exemptions risks undermining the policy altogether and leaving many tenants without meaningful protection.
They argue that Scotland’s housing market is in crisis, with working-class families bearing the brunt of soaring rents and housing insecurity. The letter points out that each rent rise chips away at people’s quality of life and directly threatens the Scottish Government’s goal of eradicating child poverty.
The letter also raises concern about a recent consultation that could lead to a large number of properties being exempted from rent controls. This, the campaigners say, would create a deeply unfair two-tier system where some tenants remain protected while others face unregulated rent increases.
Without strong rent controls that apply across the board, the signatories believe that inflation will continue to climb, homelessness services will struggle to cope, and home ownership will remain out of reach for many. Meanwhile, house prices could continue to rise, further deepening inequality.
They also warn that, in the absence of robust rent controls, public money will continue to be wasted on poor-quality and often unsafe temporary accommodation. This, they argue, is money that could instead be used to buy back housing stock for public benefit, creating secure and affordable homes in the long run.
The signatories are clear that rent controls should not be weakened by special exemptions, including for “mid-market rent” and “build-to-rent” developments. They argue that allowing such exemptions will only fuel instability and uncertainty for tenants, making it harder for people to plan their lives.
Another key point raised is that landlords should not be rewarded simply for carrying out minimal repairs or improvements. Instead, there should be stricter penalties for landlords who fail to meet acceptable living standards, ensuring that improvements are done genuinely for the benefit of tenants, rather than as an excuse to hike rents.
The coalition also rejects the idea of using rent controls to merely support “market rents,” which are already unaffordable for many households. They insist that the true goal of rent controls must be to bring rents down and make housing genuinely affordable, not to maintain the status quo.
The letter calls for clearer definitions within the proposed policy. For example, they say the term “mid-market rent” should never be applied to any property charging more than the Local Housing Allowance. Additionally, “build-to-rent” developments should come under the same rent control rules as other rented housing after two years.
They also propose that any quality improvements claimed by landlords should be assessed using a transparent, point-based system. This would ensure fair and consistent evaluations and prevent landlords from exploiting loopholes to raise rents unjustifiably.
Another serious concern raised is the imbalance in the consultation process itself. While landlords across Scotland were invited directly to submit their views, tenants were not offered the same opportunity. The signatories argue this one-sided approach clearly benefits landlords and undermines the voices of those most affected by the housing crisis.
In closing, the letter makes a forceful appeal to the government to put people before profit. It warns that if the government fails to deliver on its promise of meaningful, universal rent controls, voters will remember. The signatories remind ministers to consider whose interests they truly wish to serve.
The letter concludes with signatures from prominent union leaders and housing campaigners, including Aditi Jehangir from Living Rent, Roz Foyer of the STUC, Gordon Martin from RMT Scotland, Liz McGachey and John Jamieson of PCS Scotland, along with representatives from Unite Scotland, GMB Scotland, and UCU Scotland. Together, they call for immediate action to introduce fair, robust, and universal rent controls before the end of the current Parliament.