TENANTS living in an Edinburgh housing development staged a protest at the offices of the developers after a 24% rent increase was proposed.
The property, in the Bonnington area of Edinburgh, includes 463 flats, of which around 116 are classed as intermediate market rent properties – a scheme designed to provide homes for individuals on lower to middle incomes.
Members of renters' rights group Living Rent marched into PLATFORM_'s offices to demand the rent increase is reversed, while also urging the Scottish Government to consider intermediate market rent properties in future freezes or controls, as they are currently excluded under planned housing regulation reforms.
The 24% rent hike is currently only being applied to tenants who moved into the development when it was first built in November 2024. Currently tenants who moved in later have not had the increase applied.
The 24% rent increase changes the monthly payment from £748 to £927 for a one bed, £967 to £1197 for a two bed and £1400 to £1700 for a three bed.
When it is implemented, the Housing (Scotland) Act 2025 will allow long-term rent controls to be introduced in areas where rents are rising steeply
Under the new law, rent increases are set to be capped to inflation plus one per cent for properties in the private rented sector, however mid-market rental properties are not included, sparking concern from residents who fear they will not be able toafford to increase.
Jin, an IMR tenant at PLATFORM_, who has previously experienced homelessness, attended the protest and said:
“Landlords work together to wine and dine the government to exclude IMR in order to keep making money. It comes down to greed.
“The thing about PLATFORM_ and landlords raising rents without concern is the complete disregard for fellow humans. There’s a sickening focus on profit, profit, profit. It reduces people to the amount of money they can bring you in each month… Places like PLATFORM_ sell luxury, but throw tenants under the bus.”
Aditi Jehangir, Living Rent Edinburgh’s secretary said that “it is beyond acceptable that PLATFORM_ is going ahead with such a sharp rent increase. Such a big rent increase is completely unaffordable - especially for those in intermediate-market tenancies.
"This behaviour highlights the complete lack of regulation or oversight of the intermediate and mid market sector. How can those on low incomes be expected to fork up increases that have increased beyond the rate of the open market.
Jehangir added: "It is shocking that there is nothing protecting mid market tenants from landlords from hiking up their rents beyond what is affordable.
"This behaviour by PLATFORM_ is the perfect example of why mid-market tenancies can not be made exempt from rent controls. Mid market tenants desperately need rent controls now.”
A spokesperson for PLATFORM_ in Edinburgh told the Edinburgh Evening News: “Rents for Intermediate Market apartments are set in line with the Scottish Government's published Broad Rental Market Area rent schedule and in accordance with the planning framework for the development.
“We are confident that our Intermediate Rent apartments continue to provide excellent value for residents, remaining significantly below comparable open market rents in Edinburgh, while offering access to a professionally managed development with a dedicated on site team and a range of high-quality on-site amenities, including a gym, roof terraces and co-working facilities.
“We encourage any residents with questions about their tenancy to contact the team directly.”
PLATFORM_ has been approached for comment.
