Home ownership and private renting

This content applies to Scotland only.

Over the past 20 years, the private sector has overtaken social housing as the dominant provider of housing in Scotland. This is mainly due to Scotland having the fastest rate of growth in home ownership in western Europe, fuelled by sales of council housing through the Right to Buy.

Shelter's policy work on home ownership and private renting

The Housing (Scotland) Act 2006 makes provisions for various changes to the ways in which private sector housing in Scotland is regulated, and Shelter made representation to the Scottish Parliament at several points as the Act passed through Parliament. These papers can be accessed in the 'home ownership' section of the policy library. The policy library also contains a range of information on how the growth of home ownership is driving inequalities in UK society and on many aspects of private rented housing in Scotland, including management standards, unlawful evictions, rent deposits and housing conditions.

Key policy documents on home ownership and private renting

• Support for home-owners
  A briefing to MSPs on the current policy response to the housing market problem and Shelter's view on the best way forward.
• Stage One of the Housing (Scotland) Bill
  This briefing for the parliamentary debate on Stage One of the Housing (Scotland) Bill sets out a number of areas where amendments are required. Issues raised include the powers of the private rented housing panel, the Code of Practice for landlords, compulsory leasing of empty housing, unlawful eviction and rights for mobile home tenants.
• Tackling unlawful evictions in Scotland
  This briefing forms part of Shelter's response to the Housing (Scotland) Bill, and contains proposals for legislative reform in relation to unlawful evictions in Scotland.
• Written evidence on the Housing (Scotland) Bill
  In this paper, Shelter welcomes the Scottish Executive's proposals for legislation covering the private sector in Scotland. Our response focuses largely on these proposals, and on proposals relating to mobile homes.
• Compulsory leasing of empty homes in Scotland
  This is one of a series of position papers produced by Shelter on the Housing (Scotland) Bill. This briefing focuses on compulsory leasing of empty homes in Scotland.
• A rent deposit protection service for Scotland
  This position paper, produced by Shelter as part of our response to the Housing (Scotland) Bill, sets out proposals for a rent deposit protection service.

Research and statistics on home ownership and private renting

Our list of recent publications often contains links to reports and papers concerning home ownership and the private rented sector.

Further information

• You can find out more about accessing accommodation in the private sector, private tenants' rights, mortgages and repossession and other home ownership options in our advice section.
• You can read our guide to the new rights and responsibilities for home owners and tenants introduced by the Housing (Scotland) Act 2006.
  
• For more detailed information on these topics you can subscribe to Shelter Legal, our online housing law resource.