Review taxes and boost supply - agents’ message to new party leader

Propertymark has given advice to the new Scottish National Party leader and Scotland’s First Minister, Humza Yousaf.

The trade group’s head of policy and campaigns Timothy Douglas says: "We congratulate Humza Yousaf on his appointment as the First Minister of Scotland. We look forward to continuing to work with the Scottish Government under his leadership to champion the role of property agents and ensure there is investment and support for all housing tenures.

"Supply of property to rent is the most pressing issue affecting agents, landlords and tenants in Scotland, so it is vital that the Yousaf government carry out a full review of property taxation, introduce pro-growth measures and build a more conducive relationship with the private rented sector.”

Humza described himself as the ‘continuity candidate’ during the party’s leadership election and is widely expected to continue with the housing policies pursued by his predecessor, Nicola Sturgeon.

This involved agreeing that the main housing minister in the Scottish Government would be Patrick Harvie, a Green Party activist in power as part of a deal with the SNP. 

Harvie has been sharply critical of letting agents and landlords in the past, and is the architect of the Scottish private sector rent freeze and rent cap which have been widely criticised by industry figures north of the border.

Yesterday Scotland’s highest profile lettings agent - David Alexander, chief executive of DJ Alexander Scotland Ltd, part of the Lomond Group - said Yousaf’s election was “concerning” for the housing sector. 

He said: “If he does persist with the existing housing policy of Nicola Sturgeon then I foresee some very difficult times for Scotland’s tenants. The low numbers of social housing, the reluctance to support housebuilding, and the negative attitude toward the private rented sector have all resulted in fewer homes for Scots, rising rents, increased evictions for tenants, and a housing waiting list that numbers in the hundreds of thousands.”