MAJOR trade unions have backed calls for an immediate rent freeze across Scotland, warning that rising housing costs will “deepen poverty and inequality”.
Tenants’ union Living Rent has published an open letter calling on Social Justice and Housing Secretary Shirley-Anne Somerville to introduce a freeze covering all private and mid-market rented homes.
The letter has been backed by several of Scotland’s largest trade unions, including the Scottish Trades Union Congress (STUC), Unite Scotland, Unison Scotland, RMT Scotland, GMB Scotland and the EIS.
Calling the current system “unsustainable”, the signatories argue that freezing rents and stabilising housing costs would be one of the quickest and most effective ways to reduce financial hardship and prevent more people being pushed into poverty.
They warn that further rent rises will “deepen poverty and inequality”, increase homelessness and put additional pressure on health, social care and education services.
The intervention comes as tenants wait for new rent control measures introduced through the Housing (Scotland) Act 2025 to come into effect.
The legislation gives local authorities powers to introduce rent control areas, where increases would generally be limited to inflation plus 1%, up to a maximum of 6%.
Living Rent welcomed the introduction of the legislation but warned there is a “significant gap” before the new system can offer tenants meaningful protection.
Before rent control areas can take effect, councils must assess rents in their areas, consult stakeholders and ask the Scottish Government for approval to introduce controls.
The union said this means the framework may not become operational until late 2027 or 2028, leaving tenants exposed to further increases in the meantime.
Scottish Government figures published last year showed average rents for two-bedroom properties increased by 66.3% between 2010 and 2025.
The increases were significantly higher in some parts of the country, with rents rising by 104% in Lothian and 94% in Greater Glasgow over the same period. Inflation stood at 54.7% during that time.
Living Rent chair Ruth Gilbert said: “Tenants are being neglected by this government. If it is serious about tackling poverty and inequality, it cannot afford to ignore the cost of rent.
“Tenants are currently being left with no protections while we wait for councils to introduce permanent rent controls.
“In the meantime, there is nothing to stop landlords from exploiting this window and making huge profits whilst the rest of us struggle to make ends meet.”
Scotland previously introduced an emergency rent freeze in 2022 in response to the cost-of-living crisis.
Gilbert said: “Four years ago, when the cost of living hit hard, Scotland introduced an emergency rent freeze.
“Now, as the war in Iran threatens to drive living costs even higher, the Scottish Government must act to ensure that tenants can remain in their homes and communities.”
Living Rent is also calling for any new freeze to apply between tenancies, arguing this would prevent landlords from evicting tenants in order to increase rents for new occupants.
Gilbert added: “The Government must also learn from the loopholes in previous emergency legislation.
“Any rent freeze must apply to all tenures and between tenancies, to ensure landlords are not incentivised to evict tenants to increase rent.”
Housing Secretary Shirley-Anne Somerville said:
“We recognise the importance of taking action where private rents are rising steeply, which is why we have introduced a national system of long-term rent controls as part of the Housing Act.
She added: “Local authorities will assess rent conditions in their area regularly and recommend whether rent control areas should be put in place. The first local authority assessment reports are due to be completed by May 2027.
“In the meantime, most private tenants already have a right to seek a review of a rent increase if they consider it too high. I encourage tenants concerned about a rent increase to apply for a review.”
You can read the full letter here.
