Call for further reform as private rentals soar
THE number of families living in privately rented homes has almost trebled since Holyrood was established, with one in seven households now in this type of accommodation.
Figures for 2015 show 14 per cent of all households rent their property from either a private landlord, or a family member, friend or their employer, compared to five per cent in 1999.
The latest Scottish Household Survey found 61 per cent of people are owner-occupiers – the same proportion as in 1999 but down from the high of 66 per cent which was last recorded in 2009.
Less than a quarter (23 per cent) of households are living in either a council or housing association property, compared to 32 per cent 16 years ago.
The overall number of households in Scotland has increased 11 per cent from 2.19 million in 1999 to 2.43 million in 2015.
More than two-fifths (43 per cent) of private renters have been in their home for less than a year, the 2015 survey found, while more than half (53 per cent) expect to move in the next five years.
The housing charity Shelter Scotland said the research is “further confirmation” that continued reforms are needed in the private rental sector to make it “more modern, stable, flexible and fairer”.
Spokesman Adam Lang said: “Private renting in Scotland has tripled since 1999 with 350,000 households calling the sector home – including 91,000 with children.
“This growth along with major changes to the type of people now renting privately meant reform of the sector was vital. Shelter Scotland has been spearheading the push for reform.
“Progressive and far-reaching changes in the laws on private renting – such as the new private tenancy – are a big step forward.
“The challenge now is to enforce the legislation and to see that poorly performing landlords are supported to improve their practice and the worst landlords are removed from the sector.”
The survey also found fewer people are satisfied with the key public services.
Satisfaction with schools has dipped over the last four years, from a high of 85 per cent in 2011 to the current level of 74 per cent.
Across Scotland, the survey found 94.6 per cent of people rate their neighbourhood as a fairly good or very good place to live – including 56.3 per cent who describe it as “very good”.
But in the most deprived communities, 30 per cent ranked their area this way, compared to 77 per cent in the least deprived parts of the country.