

Scotland’s landlords have urged the country’s government to pause additional stamp duty payments in a bid to alleviate its housing emergency.
The Scottish Association of Landlords (SAL) says the 8% additional dwelling supplement shouldered by members is their top concern, and that a moratorium would encourage them to invest more and reconsider quitting the sector.
Speaking on SAL’s Landlord Voice podcast, chief executive John Blackwood (main image, right) said the tax was introduced to discourage second home ownership, but that landlords buying properties to rent out to people in housing need were being impacted.
“We’re not saying scrap it completely…let’s have a moratorium during the housing emergency or for a period of time that the government dictate, to say if a landlord invests in a new property they don’t have to pay that 8% additional dwelling supplement, perhaps on condition it is let for a certain period of time or it’s targeted at certain markets such as bringing empty homes back into use,” explained Blackwood.
“I’m not saying landlords should get tax breaks, it’s about how we can support landlords who want to invest, which in the long term will alleviate Scotland’s housing emergency. Let’s incentivise people to buy those properties, do them up and bring them back to the rental market.”
Blackwood acknowledged that the group had a responsibility to come up with ideas to work effectively with new housing minister Màiri McAllan.
However, he added that although new social and affordable homes to rent were needed, the government should also utilise the PRS.
“There will always be landlords leaving…but we’re not seeing new investors coming in, so we are going to see a declining PRS,” he said. “We’re saying ‘we’re part of the solution in the crisis, not the problem – you should encourage landlords to stay in the sector and to invest’.”
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