Thomas Heald: The SNP’s Housing Bill punishes tenants. Conservatives must offer hope

Councillor Thomas Heald is a Scottish Conservative councillor for Dunblane and Bridge of Allan, Scottish Conservative and Unionist candidate for Dunfermline and political advisor in the Scottish Parliament.

Housing policy might seem dry, but its human cost is real.

Recently, a young Conservative voter told me how, despite paying rent on time, he now faces Scotland’s overheated rental market with no affordable options, calling home ownership ‘for the birds.’ His story is echoed by thousands across Scotland.

The reality is that the SNP’s housing policy, which is supposed to protect tenants, is letting them down. Many young Scots are left frustrated and looking for answers elsewhere. The SNP/Green Bute House Agreement focused on attention-grabbing ideas like rent controls instead of real, lasting solutions. While these policies sound good, they have caused real problems in practice.

When rent caps were imposed, the promise was greater security and affordability for tenants, but the result was different. Rents are rising faster in Scotland than anywhere else in the UK, with disappearing properties becoming the norm. Landlords, facing tighter margins and uncertain rules, chose to exit the market, reducing choice and leaving families scrambling for ever-scarcer accommodation. I remember raising this at a hustings in Dunfermline ahead of the General Election in 2024, only to be met with derision by the Scottish Green representative.

I hate to say I told you so, well, you know the last bit.

The main problem is simple: we’re not building enough homes. Every year, more people need places to live, but not enough new homes are being built. This drives up rents, makes it harder for young families to buy, and means longer waiting lists for social housing. Rent controls and more rules don’t fix the real issue of not having enough homes.

The answer is to build more homes, and to do it quickly. We need clear targets for new housing, better planning rules to encourage private developers, and more funding and power for councils to create social housing. The private rented sector should be seen as a key partner in solving the housing shortage, not as something to be pushed out.

We need investors to feel confident if we want to meet Scotland’s housing needs. To make this happen, Scottish Conservatives should promise stable rules, talk to investors before making changes, and make sure any new energy efficiency rules are realistic and flexible for older buildings. Support like grants and temporary relief can also help keep investment in new rental homes coming.

Helping people own their own homes is a core Conservative value.

If Scottish Conservatives want to regain trust, we need to make it easier for young people to get affordable mortgages, offer more shared ownership options, and change planning rules to allow more building. When public housing is sold, the money should always go back into building new homes so we don’t fall behind on supply.

In my ward and across Stirling, the effects of bad housing policy are clear right now. Councillors see families without homes, young people unable to afford to stay in their communities, and town centres suffering because there aren’t enough homes above shops. The difference between what’s promised nationally and what’s really happening locally is obvious.

Scotland is in a housing emergency because SNP policies have not worked. Instead of quick fixes that scare off investment and miss the real problem, we need a new plan. We should focus on real results: bringing back investor confidence, working with landlords and developers, and making home ownership possible without cutting supply.

Housing means opportunity, security, and a sense of community.

Scottish Conservatives should now focus on delivering real homes for people, not just making promises. We need to work together with communities, experts, and businesses to quickly build more homes, support responsible ownership, and give Scotland real hope for the future. It’s time to act and rebuild public trust.