THE Scottish government has “prioritised landlords,” tenants’ union Living Rent warned as a rent cap introduced during the cost-of-living crisis came to an end today.

Ministers had announced earlier this year that the measure, which limited rent increases to 12 per cent, would be removed on April 1.

Campaigners warn that renters could be exposed to substantial rises before rent control measures under the Housing (Scotland) Bill come into force, which may not happen until 2027.

According to Living Rent’s analysis of official figures, adjudications by Rent Service Scotland saw rents increase by an average of £71, while landlords proposed hikes of £154 on average.

Living Rent national campaigns chairwoman Ruth Gilbert warned that the end of the measures would see tenants “plunged into further poverty” and that landlords were “celebrating” the change.

“This government has once again prioritised landlords’ vested interests over tenants’ need for affordable housing,” she said.

“It is completely irresponsible to end the measures that have offered tenants interim protections from sky-high rent increases before permanent rent controls become law and while rents continue to push people into poverty.

“Without this cap, tenants are going to be hit hard by a wave of ‘open market’ rent increases as landlords cash in following two years of emergency protections.

“Open-market rent is completely unaffordable. It is ludicrous that this government thinks it is a fair metric for determining rent levels.”

Ms Gilbert predicted that uncapped rents would “decimate our communities, force people out of their homes and further exacerbate both homelessness and poverty.”

“As we’ve seen, unregulated, out-of-control rents also drive high inflation,” she added.

Scottish Green MSP Maggie Chapman said that, from yesterday morning, tenants would be receiving notices of rent increases “with little notice or chance to appeal.”

“It will be a dark day for renters, but rogue landlords will be celebrating in the knowledge that they are no longer being constrained,” she said.

Ms Chapman said that the Scottish government could extend the cap, which had been “offering renters protections from the most predatory landlords.”

A Scottish government spokeswoman insisted that tenants still had strong protections and encouraged them to challenge above-market rent increases.

She said that more than 136,000 affordable homes had been delivered since 2007, with 97,000 for social rent.

“We know that there is a need for longer-term action … that is why we are taking forward measures in the Housing Bill,” she added.