Episode Overview

In this episode of The Scottish Property Podcast, Nick and Steven are joined by Dr John Boyle to discuss rent controls in Scotland, why they have backfired, and how landlords have changed their strategy in response. They also look at what this means for the wider private rental sector, tenants and property investors. In addition, the conversation touches on housing supply, build-to-rent, student accommodation and whether current policy is helping or making the rental market more difficult.

The conversation also touches on housing supply, build-to-rent, student accommodation and whether current policy is helping or making the rental market more difficult. As a result, this episode gives a practical look at how rent controls in Scotland, wider regulation and market conditions can shape long-term property investment strategy.

Overall, this episode gives a practical look at how rent controls in Scotland, wider regulation and market conditions can shape long-term property investment strategy.

Episode Highlights

• What Scotland’s housing emergency actually means, and why homelessness and temporary accommodation are increasing
• Why housing costs of around 25%–30% of gross income are generally considered affordable
• How annual housebuilding has fallen from around 25,000 homes before the financial crash to fewer than 20,000
• Why Scotland’s 2026 house-price growth forecast was revised from 3.5% to around 0%
• Why Dr John Boyle does not believe the 18-year property cycle will cause a house-price crash in 2026
• How Aberdeen’s property market changed so dramatically, and why transactions are now beginning to recover
• Why landlord registration figures may not give a reliable picture of landlords leaving the sector
• How rent controls encouraged landlords to raise rents to market value between tenancies
• Why the 8% Additional Dwelling Supplement affects new landlords while producing record tax revenue
• Why rent controls caused institutional build-to-rent investment in Scotland to stall
• How student accommodation and co-living could provide alternative housing options

Episode Timestamps

• 00:00 – Meet Dr. John Boyle
• 01:08 – Scotland’s housing emergency explained
• 04:04 – Why Scotland is not building enough homes
• 07:08 – The rising cost of social housing
• 10:55 – Scotland’s property-market outlook
• 14:32 – Will the 18-year property cycle cause a crash?
• 18:25 – What could trigger the next property crash?
• 21:39 – What happened to Aberdeen’s property market?
• 25:31 – Finding growth areas and interpreting property data
• 30:28 – Are landlords really leaving Scotland?
• 35:23 – How the 8% ADS is affecting investors
• 37:47 – Why rent controls caused rents to rise
• 40:11 – The future of rent-control zones
• 44:57 – Build-to-rent and institutional investment
• 53:03 – Why build-to-rent schemes are struggling
• 56:47 – Is Glasgow building too much student accommodation?
• 59:49 – Could co-living help address the housing shortage?
• 01:00:52 – Where to connect with Dr. John

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Do you think Scotland is heading for a property crash, or will the housing shortage keep prices resilient? Let us know in the comments below