Generation Rent is urging all Scottish political parties to support its manifesto pledge that private renters should receive the last two months’ rent free in cases of no-fault evictions. The call comes ahead of the Scottish elections in May, as the tenant advocacy group launches its Standing Up for Renters in Scotland manifesto, which also pushes for backing Scotland’s rent cap and updating the Scottish Landlord Register.
The campaign highlights the ongoing housing crisis in Scotland. Generation Rent points out that over 100,000 households are on social housing waiting lists, while more than 17,000 are living in temporary accommodation—the highest figure on record. Between 1999 and 2022, the number of households renting privately nearly tripled to 320,000, driving average rents up by more than 60% since 2010. The manifesto argues that political parties need to adopt more ambitious measures to ensure safe, secure, and affordable homes for every private renter.
A core proposal from Generation Rent is providing two months’ rent-free compensation when tenants face eviction due to a landlord’s decision to sell the property. The group also calls for strengthened protections against ‘landlord need’ evictions, which occur when landlords want to move in themselves or allow a family member to occupy the property. Their plan includes a protected period during which these evictions cannot occur for at least the first 12 months after a tenant moves in, followed by a minimum four-month notice period. Generation Rent contends that the financial benefit landlords gain from selling a property would easily cover the cost of offering two months’ unpaid rent.
Alongside this, the group is pushing political parties to continue supporting Scotland’s rent cap. Under the Housing Act, designated areas may limit annual rent increases to CPI + 1%, up to a maximum of 6%. Local councils are responsible for assessing rent conditions in their areas and submitting proposals for rent-controlled zones to the Scottish government by 31 May 2027. While Generation Rent supports these measures, it acknowledges evidence that rent controls alone have not always prevented rapid increases, with some landlords still raising rents faster than in other parts of Great Britain.
The manifesto also calls for a more robust Scottish Landlord Register. Generation Rent wants the register to include details on landlords meeting key standards such as energy efficiency ratings, gas and electrical safety certifications, tribunal cases, fines, deposit disputes, and rent information. By providing greater transparency, the group hopes tenants will be better informed and able to make safer housing choices.
Generation Rent’s campaign is a clear message to Scottish political parties: the housing crisis requires urgent, ambitious action. With the upcoming elections, the group is pushing for a framework that balances tenant protections with fairness for landlords, ensuring that Scotland’s rental sector becomes more stable, transparent, and equitable.
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