SNP pledges 'first refusal' for tenants to buy private rental homes

Private tenants will have "first refusal" if landlords put their home up for sale if the SNP wins the Holyrood election, John Swinney has pledged.

Under the plans, when the owner of the property decides to list it on the market, renters would be given a period of exclusivity to purchase it "at a fair market rate".

The Scottish Conservatives called it and "ill thought out" plan which would cause new problems, while Labour and the Lib Dems said the SNP had repeatedly failed to tackle the housing crisis during their time in power.

Reform UK have previously outlined plans to prioritise local people on housing lists, while the Scottish Greens have called for "bolder" action.

Two years ago, the Scottish Parliament declared a national housing emergency over severe shortage in social homes, an increase in homelessness and rising property costs.

According to Registers of Scotland, the average price of property in Scotland rose in the first month of 2026 to £188,000.

In Edinburgh, the average cost of a home was £294,000 – above the UK average of £268,000.

Meanwhile, average monthly rental costs – skewed by the capital – are now £1,022, according to figures released by the Office for National Statistics.

Swinney announced the first refusal policy ahead of a campaign visit to Inverness, saying it could help those struggling to get on the property ladder.

He said monthly rental costs had a major impact on buyers' ability to save for a deposit, and the plan would stop them being "locked out" of home ownership.

"So many people are stuck paying more on rent than they would on a mortgage - and with costs just going up and up, there is nothing left over at the end of the month to save for a deposit," he said.

"That is made all the more difficult when private renters find themselves having to leave their home because the owner has decided to sell up. As well as forcing people to upend their whole lives, it also has serious financial implications.

"That is why I will give renters the right to first refusal on the home they live in - at a fair market rate - if the owner of the property decides to sell."

He added: "This will help people to put down roots and to feel secure in their own home - without the risk of being turfed out against their will."

Swinney is also promising the establishment of a new housing agency and reform of the planning system.

But Scottish Labour's housing spokesman, Mark Griffin, said the SNP had allowed housebuilding to "collapse" and he accused it of "failing to fix the mess".

He added: "The idea that establishing yet another quango - taking more of taxpayers' money - will fundamentally fix this situation is misguided and could represent poor value for money.

"Scottish Labour will deliver the most ambitious housebuilding programme in the history of devolution with 125,000 new homes, so families have the safe, secure homes they need, and home ownership can be within reach for the next generation."

The Scottish Conservatives housing spokeswoman, Meghan Gallacher, said the plans would make it "harder for homes to be brought to the market".

She added: "The SNP, backed by Labour and the Greens, have already implemented damaging housing policies like rent controls that saw rents rise faster in Scotland than any other part of the UK.

"The Scottish Conservatives would instead slash housebuilding regulations to build more homes and abolish the tax on buying a home to get more people on the housing ladder."

The Scottish Liberal Democrats have accused the SNP of "failing to respond" to the national housing emergency, with a succession of housing ministers re-announcing the same commitments while the rate of affordable homes building has collapsed.

The Scottish Greens have said rent support is just as important and the party want to see rent control zones established across Scotland as soon as possible.

Former co-leader Patrick Harvie said there could be "merit" to a system that is strongly linked to the valuation rather than an "offers over" price.

Harvie said the same option should be given to housing associations so sitting tenants who cannot get a mortgage can remain tenants.

Reform UK opposes rent controls and argues the SNP's policies have made the housing crisis worse.

The party's candidate Helen McDade said the pledge was a "good soundbite" but she was unsure of how it would work in practice.

McDade argued that more social housing was needed and more brownfield sites should be developed.

The SNP has already pledged to establish a £100m first homes fund if the party wins the election, which would give first-time buyers up to £10,000 to help towards a deposit.

Under the plan, the government would take a stake in the property which gets repaid when the home is sold.

At the last Holyrood election the SNP promised to deliver 110,000 affordable homes by 2032, but figures suggest it is not on track to meet the target unless housebuilding accelerates.

Faced with financial pressures, the affordable housing budget was cut by about £200m in the SNP's 2024-25 budget, although this was later partially reversed.

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