IN THIS SECTION:

What we do

Residential private rented sector

The cost of private renting is typically 30% cheaper than buying an equivalent property.

In Scotland just 8% of hosueholds are in the private rented sector, a figure that is substantially below other parts of the UK. We believe that there is a greater role for the large scale PRS in terms of both existing and new build stock in Scotland.

EXPAND

What's the issue

The private rented sector (PRS) is vital to delivering flexible tenure for a mobile workforce and providing housing where social renting or home ownership is not applicable or affordable.

Just before the Scottish elections in May 2011 the Scottish Government published a major paper entitled Homes fit for the 21st century. This paper reflected months of discussions with stakeholders and represented some new thinking by the Scottish Government on the role of the rented sector in the eyars to come.

EXPAND

Why is it important

Changes to tax and investment regimes achieved at UK level by amongst others our colleagues at BPF mean that there is an opportunity to positively influence Scottish Government thinking and policy relevant to the private rented residential sector.

Scotland as a whole is underweight in terms of its rented residential sector even though the evidence of market performance in recent years has been strong. Currently only around 8% of Scottish households are in the private rented sector, with another 62% being outright homeowners and the remainder in the social rented sector. In the rest of the UK some 15% of households are privately rented.

What we're doing about it

SPF engages with Scottish Ministers and their officials to argue the case for a stronger large scale rented residential sector. We encourage members with residential interests to engage with our residential management and investment committee and to coem forward with ideas to raise the profile of this part of the sector.

We do not conflict our support for a greater role for the private rented sector with a key understanding of the aspirations by Scottish hosueholders to own their homes. We support therefore many of the initiatives forwarded by bodies such as Homes for Scotland to boost private housebuilding in the face of the current financial and economic constraints facing the housebuilding sector.

David Melhuish
dmelhuish@bpf.org.uk
0131 220 6353

Naomi Cunningham
ncunningham@bpf.org.uk
0131 306 2222

As you move from page to page, this column shows you some of the useful information stored on this site

Or you can use this search: