The SNP has proposed that private tenants should have “first refusal” rights when landlords list homes for sale, giving renters an exclusive window to buy at a fair market price if the party wins the Holyrood election. John Swinney unveiled the plan in Inverness, arguing it would help renters who struggle to save for a deposit amid rising rents. The policy drew mixed reactions: the Scottish Conservatives called it ill thought out and warned it could create new problems, while Labour and the Lib Dems accused the SNP of failing to tackle the housing crisis during its years in government. Reform UK urged prioritising locals on housing waiting lists, and the Scottish Greens pressed for bolder steps. Help for renters to buy and cancer waiting times also feature on election campaign agendas. Swinney also pledged a £100,000 deposit scheme to aid first-time buyers.
Two years ago, the Scottish Parliament declared a national housing emergency amid a critical shortage of social homes, rising homelessness, and soaring property prices. Registers of Scotland data show the average price of a Scottish home rose to £225,226 in January 2024, with Edinburgh averaging £294,000—well above the UK average of £268,000. Meanwhile, average monthly rents have climbed to £1,022, driven in part by demand in the capital.
Swinney argued the first-refusal policy would help reduce the crippling impact of rent on deposit savings and prevent would-be buyers from being “locked out” of ownership. He pointed out that countless people are paying more in rent than a mortgage would cost—and with expenses constantly rising, there is little money left at month’s end to save for a deposit. He cautioned that private renters forced to vacate when their landlord sells face significant disruption and financial consequences. “That’s why I’ll grant renters the right of first refusal on the home they occupy—at a fair market rate—if the property owner chooses to sell,” he said, adding that the measure would enable people to establish roots and feel secure in their homes without the fear of eviction against their wishes.
