Renters face loss of affordable rural homes due to increased red tape burden and 'negative' attitude to private landlords

Rules and regulations on climate change, tenants’ rights and animosity towards private landlords are among a raft of barriers that could lead to a bigger shortage of affordable homes in rural parts of Scotland, a conference in Edinburgh has heard.
By Ilona Amos
Published 18th May 2022, 12:30 GMT
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According to speakers at the event, hosted by membership organisation Scottish Land & Estates (SLE), population decline and government ambition to improve housing outside towns and cities will not be addressed because of long-standing issues around planning, infrastructure constraints, inflexibility on affordable housing models and a negative approach to private landlords.

The organisation is calling on the Scottish Government to help resolve the issues in a bid to satisfy demand for good-quality, energy-efficient and affordable properties to rent in countryside areas.

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Sarah-Jane Laing, chief executive of SLE, said: “We all share the goal of trying to increase the amount of rural housing but all too often that ambition is thwarted by delays in planning processes, lack of funding for private affordable homes, prohibitive infrastructure and utility costs and an ever-growing burden of private rented sector legislation.

“Members of Scottish Land & Estates provide more than 10,000 homes for rent in rural areas and many businesses are actively involved in building homes.

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