Housing (Scotland) Act 2025

7 Ministerial guidance on reports following assessments of rent conditions

(1) The Scottish Ministers must issue guidance to local authorities about reports to be prepared under section 1(1), 3(6) or (7), or 5(2).

(2) The first guidance about reports to be prepared under each of the provisions mentioned in subsection (1) must be issued within the period of 9 months beginning with the day on which the provision in question comes into force.

(3) Guidance under subsection (1) may, in particular, include provision about—

(a) the form in which a report is to be prepared,

(b) the information to be included in a report, including—

(i) the reasons for recommending the designation of an area as a rent control area,

(ii) any documents to be submitted with the report,

(c) the anonymising of—

(i) information to be included in the report,

(ii) documents to be submitted with the report,

(d) matters to be considered by local authorities in deciding whether to recommend the designation of an area as a rent control area,

(e) the identification of such an area with reference to a plan,

(f) any other criteria or thresholds applying to a recommendation to designate an area as a rent control area.

(4) Before issuing guidance under subsection (1), the Scottish Ministers must consult—

(a) local authorities, and

(b) persons who appear to them to represent the interests of tenants and landlords.

(5) The requirement to consult under subsection (4) may be met by consultation carried out before this section comes into force.

(6) The Scottish Ministers must publish guidance issued under subsection (1) in such manner as they consider appropriate.

(7) In preparing and submitting a report mentioned in subsection (1), a local authority must have regard to any guidance issued by the Scottish Ministers under that subsection.