In July, Scotland’s biggest letting agency, DJ Alexander Ltd, received a record 39,400 viewing requests for rental properties in Edinburgh and Glasgow. This is the highest demand they’ve seen in their 41 years of operation.

Why is this a concern?

• They only have limited properties available for rent. This means many people who are looking for homes won’t be able to find one.
• If this continues, more people might end up without homes, and tenants might become unhappy.

What does the expert say?

• David Alexander, the CEO of the agency, notes that this high demand wasn’t seen even 4-5 years ago – “Over the last few years we have seen demand for properties in the private rented sector (PRS) increase substantially but over the last year it has grown exponentially. These viewing enquiry numbers would have been unheard of four or five years ago, but we now regularly have hundreds of people applying for each property with only a limited numbers of places becoming available resulting in little prospect of finding homes for all of these individuals.”
• He believes a solution is needed to prevent the situation from getting worse, like increased homelessness.

What can be done?

• A united effort from all political parties is required. They need to:
  1. Encourage more investment in the private rental sector.
  2. Build more houses.
  3. Increase the amount of social housing (homes provided by the government or non-profit organizations).
• Consultations with a variety of professionals, like builders, property investors, landlords, and even tenants, can help design a larger and adaptable market for the future.

Conclusion:

• Fixing this issue isn’t a quick job. Planning for the next 20 years is crucial.
• All sectors, both private and public, play a role in providing rental homes. Discussions, compromises, and structured plans are essential to make sure everyone in Scotland can find a home.