Housing (Scotland) Act 2025

3 Interim assessment and reports by local authorities

(1) Subsection (2) applies where a local authority considers that, since the submission of the most recent report under section 1(1) in relation to the area of the local authority—

(a) there has been a significant change in—

(i) the level of rents under relevant tenancies in the area (or any part of it), or

(ii) the rate of increase in rents under relevant tenancies in the area (or any part of it), and

(b) the change may affect the need to designate the area (or any part of it) as a rent control area.

(2) The local authority may (in addition to the duty to carry out a periodic assessment of rent conditions and to submit a subsequent report under section 1(1)) carry out an interim assessment of rent conditions in relation to its area of (either or both)—

(a) the level of rents in the area (or any part of it),

(b) the rate of increase in rents in the area (or any part of it).

(3) Where a local authority is carrying out an interim assessment of rent conditions under subsection (2), it must inform the Scottish Ministers in writing of that fact.

(4) Subsection (5) applies where the Scottish Ministers consider that, since the submission by a local authority of its most recent report under section 1(1), there has been a significant change in—

(a) the level of rents under relevant tenancies in the area of the local authority (or any part of it), or

(b) the rate of increase in rents under relevant tenancies in the area of the local authority (or any part of it).

(5) The Scottish Ministers may direct the local authority (in addition to the duty to carry out a periodic assessment of rent conditions and to submit a subsequent report under section 1(1)) to carry out an interim assessment of rent conditions in relation to its area of (either or both)—

(a) the level of rents in the area (or any part of it),

(b) the rate of increase in rents in the area (or any part of it).

(6) Where a local authority has carried out an interim assessment of rent conditions under subsection (2), it must prepare a report relating to the assessment and submit it to the Scottish Ministers as soon as is reasonably practicable following the completion of the interim assessment.

(7) Where a local authority has carried out an interim assessment of rent conditions under subsection (5), it must prepare a report relating to the assessment and submit it to the Scottish Ministers in accordance with any time limit specified in the Scottish Ministers’ direction given under that subsection.

(8) A direction under subsection (5) must—

(a) be given in writing, and

(b) be published in such manner as the Scottish Ministers consider appropriate.