The Scottish property industry has highlighted the critical need for clarity from the Scottish Government to support investment in Scotland’s built environment.
Scottish Property Federation (SPF) members and stakeholders gathered in Glasgow yesterday for the SPF Annual Conference to discuss key issues, including boosting housing supply and decarbonising Scotland’s buildings.
The recently-published Scottish Housing Bill was a key focus for delegates, with concern that the proposals for rent controls could risk over £2.5bn of investment in new homes for rent, as well as knock-on impacts of losing jobs.
Industry experts stated that the Bill, as currently drafted, provides little clarity on the future rent control system, and has led to many institutional investors sidelining Scotland when it comes to new investment in purpose-built rental properties.
At the conference, SPF chair Maria Francké commented: “Uncertainty around rent control policies has devastated the future supply of build-to-rent housing in Scotland.
“This is not just impacting on the delivery and pipeline of new private sector rented homes, but also wider investor and developer confidence in other sectors.”
The conference also welcomed Jonathan Guthrie, director of strategic partnerships at Robertson Group, as the next vice chair of the federation.
He will become the chair of the organisation in June 2025, succeeding Stuart Oag of Drum Property Group, who will take over as SPF chair from Maria Francké in the summer.
The conference, attended by some 250 investors and property professionals, heard from a range of political and industry leaders, including Scottish Labour’s business spokesperson Daniel Johnson; Scottish Housing Minister Paul McLennan; Minister for Zero Carbon Buildings, Active Travel and Tenants’ Rights, Patrick Harvie; and Dundee City Council leader John Alexander.
The SPF event was sponsored by Robertson Group, Ocean Terminal, Invest Aberdeen, City of Edinburgh Council, Invest Dundee and Invest Glasgow.
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