Tenants not challenging rent hikes with Scottish Government's adjudication system as average cost rises 9%

Exclusive figures shared with STV News show renters are not turning to the Scottish Government’s Rent Adjudication system for help and that average rents have increased by 9%.

That’s more than £70 a month but landlords wanted the increases to reach almost 20%.

Oliver Kempner’s landlord is putting his rent up by £100 a month, rising from £1,200 to £1,300. The 20-year-old student said the increase will see almost 80% of his income going towards his rent.

He told STV News: “It’s going to make life really hard for me. I’ll go further into my overdraft and have to cut back on doing things socially”

Coupled with this rent hike, Oliver is also dealing with damp and mould in his bedroom, right beside his pillows.

“I’ve to sleep with the cardboard behind my pillow”, he said. “Because there’s a lot of damp and mould and my pillows were getting wet. This is a temporary solution at the minute. It does the job for the damp but mould is still an issue.”

At the insistence of is landlord, Oliver paid half the cost of a dehumidifier.

Data from Living Rent shared exclusively with STV News found average rents have gone up by 9%, with landlords looking to increase the monthly bill by an average of £154 a month.

For Tenants who challenged their rent hikes via the adjudication process, they had a £71 increase. Half of tenants said they would have to move out if their rents went up this year.

Key Scottish Government legislation which prevents rent from rising more than 12% is due to end on March 31. From April 1, the rent adjudication service will only use “open market rent” to determine permissible rent increases.

Landlord’s claim they’ve faced rising costs with inflation pushing up mortgages, which rents don’t cover and the increased costs of repairs.

Ruth Gilbert, from Living Rent told STV: “It’s very difficult for tenants to go through that tribunal process and feel confident that any unfair rent increase is going to be managed by the tribunal.

“If you’re going in there with a 20% increase and come out the door with a 40% increase, it’s really not doing its job, is it?”

Citizens Advice Scotland have seen a 45% increase in requests for help with rent changes.

Aoife Deery said: “Coupled with council tax increases, continued effects of inflation and new energy price cap rise, people are going to be struggling and that’s why we are really keen these rent protections are extended.”

Housing minister Paul McLennan said: “From April 1, protections continue to be in place against rent increases above market rent for most private tenants and I 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 Bill to support the introduction of longer-term rent control where this is needed.”