Committee
Local Government, Housing and Planning Committee 24 February 2026 [Draft]
24 Feb 2026 · S6 · Local Government, Housing and Planning Committee
Item of business
Subordinate Legislation
Private Housing Rent Control (Exempt Property) (Scotland) Regulations 2026 [Draft]
The next item on our agenda is evidence on the draft Private Housing Rent Control (Exempt Property) (Scotland) Regulations 2026. We are joined by the Cabinet Secretary for Housing, Màiri McAllan MSP, who is accompanied by Scottish Government officials Shaun Cassidy, who is the rent control team leader, and Craig McGuffie, who is a solicitor. I welcome you all to the meeting.The instrument is laid under the affirmative procedure, which means that the Parliament must approve it before it comes into force. Following this evidence session, the committee will be invited, under the next agenda item, to consider a motion to approve the instrument. I remind everyone that the Scottish Government officials can speak under this item but not in the debate on the instrument that will follow. There is no need for you to operate your microphones—we will do that for you.I invite the cabinet secretary to make a brief opening statement.
In the same item of business
The Convener
Green
The next item on our agenda is evidence on the draft Private Housing Rent Control (Exempt Property) (Scotland) Regulations 2026. We are joined by the Cabinet...
The Cabinet Secretary for Housing (Màiri McAllan)
SNP
Good morning. I thank the committee for the opportunity to give evidence on the regulations.The Housing (Scotland) Act 2025 introduced a long-term system of ...
The Convener
Green
Thank you very much. The committee has a few questions.You mentioned the housing emergency and the importance of ensuring that there are affordable housing o...
Màiri McAllan
SNP
:The emergency is multifaceted and requires us to take different actions across the board, one of which was rent control, which was about protecting tenants ...
The Convener
Green
Something that came up in our evidence session last week, which you might be across, is concern about MMR tenants’ ability to contest rent increases. Living ...
Màiri McAllan
SNP
:Sorry—did you say “mid-market rent”, convener?
The Convener
Green
Yes.
Màiri McAllan
SNP
:The exemptions will apply only as long as the cost restrictions that are set out for mid-market rent, whether because of public money or because of the tena...
The Convener
Green
When we were working on the Housing (Scotland) Bill—which is now an act, which is good news—one thing that I came across was the challenge that some people w...
Alexander Stewart
Con
:Cabinet secretary, you have outlined the process and procedures that will take place, but how will the impact of the exemptions on tenants be kept under rev...
Màiri McAllan
SNP
:Yes, it is. It is very much our intention to monitor the impact of these regulations, as we will monitor the impact of the act as a whole.We have some core ...
Alexander Stewart
Con
:Thank you.
The Convener
Green
We move to questions on build-to-rent properties. Meghan Gallacher is joining us online.
Meghan Gallacher
Con
:Good morning. Cabinet secretary, you touched on the fact that the exemption will apply to buildings of more than six units. How did the Scottish Government ...
Màiri McAllan
SNP
:Our objective was to act swiftly to restore confidence in investment and to do that with the clearest, most straightforward regulatory provisions. One of th...
Meghan Gallacher
Con
:That is helpful. Thank you.
Willie Coffey
SNP
:I have a follow-on question for the cabinet secretary. What protections are there for people who face unlimited rent increases if they live in BTR propertie...
Màiri McAllan
SNP
:The terms of the exemption will protect people in the first instance. You are right to mention the six-unit limit, Mr Coffey, but there is also the point ab...
Evelyn Tweed
SNP
:Good morning, cabinet secretary, and thanks for your answers so far. Will build-to-rent properties remain defined as such in perpetuity?
Màiri McAllan
SNP
:I have no plans to change the definition of build-to-rent properties for this exemption. As I said earlier, it is the right response just now, while we are ...
Evelyn Tweed
SNP
:We heard some concerns about a two-tier private rental system being created. What would you say to that?
Màiri McAllan
SNP
:We have framed this in response to the fact that there are different types of rental offer. We are not in any way intending to create a two-tier system; we ...
The Convener
Green
I would like to clarify this. When we ask questions about build-to-rent or MMR properties, we are talking about the exemption within a rent-controlled area. ...
Màiri McAllan
SNP
:Yes, but there ought to be nothing to prevent them anywhere—that is the point. When investment decisions are made with the prospect of a long-term return, p...
The Convener
Green
Thanks for that.We move to agenda item 5, which is formal consideration of motion S6M-20617.Motion moved,That the Local Government, Housing and Planning Comm...
The Convener
Green
I invite contributions from members.As there are none, I will make a contribution of my own, so bear with me. The Scottish Greens oppose exemptions from rent...
Màiri McAllan
SNP
:I will not say much more except to thank you for your comments. The legislation is a response to the larger piece of work to establish a national system of ...
The Convener
Green
The question is, that motion S6M-20617, in the name of the minister, be agreed to. Are we agreed?Members: No.
The Convener
Green
There will be a division.
ForCoffey, Willie (Kilmarnock and Irvine Valley) (SNP)Gallacher, Meghan (Central Scotland) (Con)Griffin, Mark (Central Scotland) (Lab)Stewart, Alexander (Mid...