Private Housing (Tenancies) (Scotland) Bill: stage 3 briefing

Shelter Scotland strongly support this bill and welcome the move to modernise and simplify the tenancy for private renters in Scotland, by replacing the current assured and short assured tenancy with the new private residential tenancy. In particular we welcome the increased security of tenure that this bill provides by removing "no fault" eviction from the private tenancy in Scotland. This essential rebalancing of legal rights between landlords and tenants will give more certainty and stability for the 330,000 private renter households in Scotland currently renting under insecure tenancy agreements, many providing as little as two months' security of tenure.

Importantly, the new private residential tenancy alongside the transfer of private rented sector cases from the sheriff court to the First-tier Tribunal will provide greater certainty and clarity for private landlords. In Shelter Scotland's view this new tenancy will play a vital role in providing the essential bedrock from which to raise standards and improve the quality of private rented sector accommodation in Scotland today.