Following the recent Scottish Parliament election and the formation of a new Scottish Government, Propertymark has renewed its calls for a more stable and sustainable housing market because the sector needs some certainty.
The Holyrood election on 7 May 2026 saw the Scottish National Party (SNP) return as the largest party with 58 seats, falling seven short of an overall majority. Following his reappointment as First Minister, John Swinney appointed Shirley-Anne Somerville as Cabinet Secretary for Social Justice and Housing, scrapping the standalone housing secretary role.
Ahead of the election, Propertymark published its Scottish housing manifesto, setting out a series of practical, evidence-led recommendations shaped directly by the experiences of property professionals working across Scotland. The organisation’s priorities focus on increasing housing supply, a thorough review of all taxes on property, supporting market stability, and raising professional standards across the sector.
Central to Propertymark’s proposals is the need to boost housing supply across all tenures. This includes accelerating the delivery of social housing, bringing more empty homes back into use, expanding the construction workforce, and implementing planning reforms that unlock regeneration opportunities and support new development in towns and cities.
To help restore confidence in Scotland’s housing market and encourage investment, Propertymark continues to advocate for a full review of property taxation, including at a minimum, abolishing the 8 per cent Additional Dwelling Supplement and Land and Buildings Transaction Tax (LBTT) thresholds. The organisation argues that a more balanced tax environment would support market mobility, encourage investment, and help more people access suitable housing.
The professional body has also called for a realistic and balanced approach to improving energy efficiency. Propertymark is clear that the Scottish Government must recognise the need for standards adapted to property type and geography, continued access to grants and loans, and clear guidance for property owners, it maintains that environmental improvements must be delivered in a way that does not further restrict housing supply or deter investment.
The long-term aim
The long-term aim for the Scottish Government must be to rebalance supply and demand levels for private rented property, rather than introducing rent controls, which Propertymark has consistently opposed. The rent data that local authorities collect and publish must be consistent and transparent and collected and coordinated nationally.
Propertymark has also consistently urged the UK Government to unfreeze Local Housing Allowance rates so that housing support better reflects real-world rental costs and helps those most in need. We welcome the Scottish Government’s decision to provide £8.7m in direct financial support to households with children in the private rented sector to cover the shortfall between the level of Local Housing Allowance they receive and the cost of their rent.
Recognising Scotland’s changing demographics, Propertymark is also calling for measures that encourage downsizing and support the growth of retirement housing. Doing so would help free up underoccupied homes, improve mobility throughout the housing market, and ensure older people have access to suitable accommodation that meets their needs.
In addition, Propertymark continues to campaign for the regulation of estate agents in Scotland through a framework that includes licensing, minimum qualifications, and a mandatory code of practice. The organisation believes that professional regulation would raise standards, improve consumer protection, and strengthen confidence in the sector.
Since the election, the Scottish Government has announced shared equity plans to support first-time buyers through a new First Homes Fund, which would provide eligible purchasers with a deposit contribution of up to £10,000 towards a property worth up to £300,000. The scheme aims to help around 50,000 households onto the property ladder over the next five years.
While Propertymark welcomes measures that support home ownership, it believes that demand-side interventions alone will not resolve Scotland’s housing challenges. The organisation argues that long-term solutions must focus on increasing housing supply, encouraging investment, practically improving energy efficiency, supporting housing mobility, and professionalising the property sector.
Timothy Douglas, Head of Policy and Campaigns at Propertymark, said:
“The Scottish Government’s First Homes Fund is a positive step that could help thousands of aspiring homeowners take their first step onto the property ladder, but further details are needed to support the sector to implement the proposals. Furthermore, financial support for first time buyers alone will not solve Scotland’s housing emergency.
“The underlying challenge remains a chronic shortage of homes across all tenures. Increasing supply, reviewing all taxes on property to encourage investment, supporting energy efficiency improvements, helping people move more freely through the housing market, and raising professional standards across the sector must all form part of a long-term strategy.
“Propertymark’s recommendations are grounded in the experiences of property professionals working in communities across Scotland every day. We look forward to working constructively with ministers and MSPs from all parties to deliver meaningful reforms that benefit tenants, landlords, homeowners, buyers, and the wider housing market over the course of this Parliament.”
Propertymark’s full Scottish Elections 2026 manifesto, which outlines ten recommendations to help tackle Scotland’s housing emergency, is available on the Propertymark website: Scottish Elections 2026: Our priorities for tackling the housing emergency | Propertymark
