Nearly a third find it difficult to pay rent, figures show

Almost one-third of tenants in Scotland find it difficult to pay rent, according to analysis by SafeDeposits Scotland.

The body’s charitable trust pulled together statistics from a number of sources including the Scottish Household Survey and the census to create a representative sample of 1,000 people in the private rented sector.

According to the analysis, 32% say they find it difficult to pay their rent every month, with 8% reporting it as very difficult.

That is compared to the same proportion saying it is easy to pay their rent, while 27% say it is neither easy nor difficult.

The analysis also found that 49% had to regularly cut back on household items to pay their rent.

Dr Jennifer Harris, the head of policy at SafeDeposits Scotland, said: “Affordable homes to rent should be a cornerstone of the sector across Scotland.

“However, our research shows the struggles many tenants continue to face in paying their rent each month.

“Improving affordability will require a comprehensive strategy for the sector. It needs to include ensuring there are enough homes to rent to meet demand, alongside measures to support tenants’ incomes.

“This is especially important for all those tenants who face the prospect of their housing benefit rates being frozen.”

A spokesman for the Scottish Government said: “From April 1, protections continue to be in place against rent increases above market rent for most private tenants and we would encourage tenants to make use of their right to a review of a rent increase.

“We know that there is a need for longer-term action on rents to ensure a fairer system for tenants – that is why we are taking forward measures in the Housing (Scotland) Bill to support the introduction of longer-term rent control where this is needed.

“This financial year, we are investing £7.9 million in discretionary housing payments to support tenants in the private rented sector struggling to meet their housing costs.

“This funding can be used by councils to mitigate against the impact of UK Government welfare cuts, including shortfalls in local housing allowance rates.”

The figures come as the Scottish Government’s rent control legislation makes its way through Holyrood.

If passed, the Housing (Scotland) Bill would allow councils to declare rent control areas, where cost increases would be capped by inflation plus 1% up to a limit of 6%.