Landlords warn that new laws evicting tenants in Scotland could reduce rental housing.
Emergency powers granted during the Covid pandemic have required landlords to seek authorization for evictions from a court. MSPs must decide whether to make this permanent.
The Scottish Association of Landlords said members would “lose confidence” and sell their homes if that were the case.
The Scottish Government said a court case would help prevent homelessness.
The final stages of the Coronavirus (Recovery and Reform) Bill will be debated in the Scottish Parliament on Tuesday.
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The Scottish Association of Landlords, the National Farmers’ Union of Scotland, the National Trust for Scotland and Scottish Land & Estates say the proposals could backfire.
The organizations said up to one in five landlords could pull out of the market as rental housing is already in short supply.
John Blackwood, chief executive of the Scottish Association of Landlords, said: “We urge our parliamentarians to think again.
“There is a proven eviction procedure that already works well and protects tenants and landlords.
“There is a very real danger that landlords will lose confidence in this case and simply sell houses at a time when they are in dire need.”
Sarah Jane Laing, chief executive of Scottish Land & Estates, said: “Whether you are a landlord just wanting to buy a property to rent out or someone with multiple properties, the prospect of the home you own is Not being able to repossess it scares landlords. drive them out of the sector and reduce the availability of housing for tenants.”
The Scottish Government said it would continue to seek improvements in the sector to ensure tenants are treated fairly and have access to quality property.
A spokesman said: “Over the past 20 years there have been a number of necessary changes in the private rental sector aimed at improving quality and accountability.
“Although stakeholders have often warned that such changes would lead to a reduction in the supply of private rental housing, the private rental housing sector has more than doubled in this period.
“Good landlords recognize that tenants should remain in their homes whenever possible, so the addition of a final court review supports responsible stewardship, recognizes financial and other pressures tenants may face, and helps prevent homelessness. “
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