\n
People living in rented properties say they are being hit with dramatic increases now that Scotland\u2019s rent cap has come to an end.<\/p>\n
In a bid to address the cost of living crisis at the end of 2022, the Scottish government introduced temporary legislation which banned most rent increases and evictions. <\/p>\n
This freeze was later changed to a 3% cap which ended in April.<\/p>\n
That’s when Gilly Ramage and her flatmate were given notice that their rent would increase by \u00a3300 a month.<\/p>\n
They had been paying \u00a31,100 for a two-bedroom flat in Glasgow\u2019s Southside but they were told the price would jump to \u00a31,400.<\/p>\n
Gilly, a 33-year-old admin worker, told BBC News what followed was the most stressful period of her life.<\/p>\n
“It was torture,” she said. <\/p>\n
“We were struggling to pay the rent anyway because our bills were \u00a3400 a month, so this extra \u00a3300 was just not doable.”<\/p>\n
Unable to afford the hike, Gilly and her flatmate moved out in the hope of finding cheaper flats separately.<\/p>\n
“I had no idea what the market was like,” Gilly said. <\/p>\n
“I was pretty much applying for or trying to get a booking for every single flat I could find.<\/p>\n
“Most of them didn\u2019t even get back to me and the ones that did said there\u2019s no more bookings available, and this was within an hour or two of the advert going up.”<\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n\n
<\/div>\n<\/div>\n
Gilly Ramage and her flatmate were told their rent would increase by \u00a3300 a month<\/figcaption><\/p>\n<\/figure>\n\n
The Scottish government’s most recent housing market review showed that rents in Glasgow increased by more than 22% in the year to September – almost double the national average.<\/p>\n
Gilly eventually found a one-bedroom flat for \u00a3650 a month \u2013 still an increase of \u00a3100 on what she was paying before.<\/p>\n
She said it was not somewhere she would have chosen to live \u201cif given the choice\u201d.<\/p>\n
She said she never imagined being in such an uncertain living situation at this stage in her life.<\/p>\n
\u201cWhen you\u2019re younger and you think about your thirties, you assume you\u2019ll have your life put together,” Gilly said.<\/p>\n
\u201cI work full-time, I feel like I should be able to live by myself and live quite comfortably. It\u2019s just a constant struggle.\u201d<\/p>\n<\/div>\n
Higher rent<\/h2>\n<\/p>\n\n
Her situation is not unique \u2013 tenants\u2019 rights union Living Rent told BBC News they had seen a 300% increase in the number of people contacting them about rent increases since April.<\/p>\n
Figures from the Office for National Statistics (ONS) also show that average rents in Scotland have increased more rapidly than in England or Wales, despite Scotland being the only UK nation to have introduced rent controls.<\/p>\n
Average rents increased by 10% in Scotland, 8.9% in England and 8.2% in Wales in the 12 months up to April 2024.<\/p>\n
When the rent cap in Scotland ended, a system came into force which allows tenants to challenge a rent increase by taking it to an adjudication service. <\/p>\n
This has the power to restrict increases to 12% but it is not illegal for a landlord to request a higher rent.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n\n
<\/div>\n<\/div>\n
Christina Laird and her flatmate have had notice of a 33% rent increase<\/figcaption><\/p>\n<\/figure>\n\n
Christina Laird and her flatmate are about to undergo this process themselves after receiving notice of a 33% rent increase for their flat in Edinburgh.<\/p>\n
“It\u2019s not a case of having a choice, we just wouldn\u2019t be able to afford it,” the 27-year-old charity worker told BBC News. <\/p>\n
“We aren\u2019t on huge wages, we both work for charities, so we\u2019d have to completely change our lifestyles.<\/p>\n
“We\u2019d have to make a decision to move much further out of the city which would be difficult with work, and we\u2019d have to rely more on public transport so that\u2019s another financial increase.\u201d<\/p>\n
Christina said that in order to afford the increase, she would have to \u201cdramatically\u201d reduce how often she visits her family and socialises outside of work.<\/p>\n
“I don\u2019t live a luxury lifestyle, I don\u2019t travel a lot, I don\u2019t splurge \u2013 it would be a case of cutting back my life to a point where it\u2019s quite bare,” she said.<\/p>\n
Christina said they were hoping they could negotiate a 12% increase, although it would still have a \u201cmassive impact\u201d on their daily lives and finances.<\/p>\n
“The thing that\u2019s upset me the most is this has really emphasised the power imbalance in the renting market,” she said. <\/p>\n
“I can\u2019t afford to save because I\u2019m paying someone else\u2019s mortgage.”<\/p>\n<\/div>\n