The Herald today platforms the buy-to-rent industry and blames the SNP Government for somehow not enabling it to thrive, with even greater exemptions from law designed to protect renters. BTR is not the same as traditional private renting. It is professionally managed, purpose-built stock funded by large institutions with expectations of high profit margins.

Needless to say, the Herald report is not balanced and again in the interests of the industry rather than renters, gives little attention to The Private Housing Rent Control (Exempt Property) (Scotland) Regulations 2026 – business and regulatory impact assessment, evaluation published only 5 days ago. In it we see:

The analysis of the recent consultation summarised reasons given by respondents who are not in support of an exemption for MMR properties, which speak to concerns about potential negative impacts on tenants, setting out that ‘Campaign’ respondents were amongst those commenting that:

…while MMR properties should be affordable to people on low incomes, this is increasingly not the case; they suggested that MMR developments should be rent controlled to ensure that they provide affordable housing. It was suggested that people may already struggle to afford the current level of MMR rents, and that exempting these properties may lead to affordability issues for existing tenants and make the sector unaffordable for others.”^[29]

Some consultation responses referred to cases where MMR tenants experienced rent increases which represented a percentage increase above that which would be allowed in a rent control area under the Act.

The consultation analysis also summarised practical matters which were raised:

Another frequently raised concern was that there is no accountability mechanism for MMR landlords as, although often subsidiaries of a Registered Social Landlord (RSL), they do not fall directly under the auspices of the Scottish Housing Regulator (SHR). An associated concern was that, as MMR rents are below market level, exempting MMR properties from rent control would leave MMR tenants without a mechanism to challenge rent increases.”

Source: https://www.gov.scot/publications/private-housing-rent-control-exempt-property-scotland-regulations-2026-business-regulatory-impact-assessment/pages/3/