Local Government, Housing and Planning Committee 29 May 2025
The purpose of amendment 256, in the name of Pam Gosal, is to gather data on how the bill will affect the rental market and to make that data public. During an evidence session, the Minister for Housing commented:
“Data will be an important aspect of rent controls and of determining what comes through on a local basis, as well as nationally... What levels of investment are coming through for mid-market rent, build to rent and other forms of investment in the housing sector?”—[Official Report, Local Government, Housing and Planning Committee, 10 September 2024; c 7.]
That is why the amendment provides for Scottish Government ministers to collect data that would be published annually. That would include:
“(a) average rental levels, broken down by—
(i) local authority area, and
(ii) number of bedrooms,
(b) the total number of evictions,
(c) the number of rental properties available on the housing market at the time of reporting,
(d) the total level of rent arrears.”
Of course, ministers would be free to add any other information that they felt appropriate. Data collection is key when measuring the effects that policies have on the public. If the proper data is not in place, we will not know whether the policy is causing more harm than good. Therefore, I ask members to support the amendment.