大象传媒

Following the stories of four young renters who face being priced out or pushed out of their homes as the law in Scotland changes, rents rise and evictions grow.

There is a housing crisis across the UK, with millions caught in the trap of rising rents and stagnant wages. In response to this and to the cost-of-living crisis, the Scottish government put a law in place that limited rent rises and put a freeze on evictions. That law ended in 2024, and the Scottish government declared an official housing emergency due to a lack of social housing, pressure on homelessness services, rising property prices and high levels of temporary accommodation.

Young renters are being hit particularly hard, with 8,000 16- to 25-year-olds declaring homelessness last year. In this documentary, four of those affected share their stories as we see the process of dramatic rent rises and evictions unfold and the devastating effect this has on their lives, their relationships and their mental and physical health.

From the towns and villages of Speyside to Edinburgh, we see just how young mum Skye, heavily pregnant disability influencer Alannah, tech worker CJ and IT consultant Connor learn how to fight for their rights as the reality of the housing emergency unfolds and threatens where and how they live.

We also hear from successful Paisley landlord David, who also has problems with the way in which the rental market operates and, despite owning multiple properties, declares the system broken. What happens to these young renters, desperate to keep a roof over their heads, when landlords want them out?