5th
Jan 2022
Labour is now demanding rent controls must be introduced across Scotland and fully backs the Green Party and SNP intentions.
Labour’s shadow minister for public finance and employment in the Scottish Parliament, Paul Sweeney has just tweeted his list of demands for a blanket rent control legislation to be implemented.
Sweeney tweeted: “We need rent controls in Scotland, and we need them now. For too long, landlords have had total control: ratcheting up rents well above wages while neglecting maintenance.
“Together we can end the rip off rental market in Scotland and provide good quality housing for everyone.”
To all intents and purposes Labour is now fully backing the recently agreed Scottish governing alliance between the SNP and the Greens which now forms the majority in Holyrood, with its campaigning for rent controls.
Days before Christmas, Scotland’s Green Party housing chief, Patrick Harvie and is now titled as the Minister for Zero Carbon Buildings, Active Travel and Tenants’ Rights, stated: “Now is the time to do more for people who rent their homes, whether they are renting privately, from the council or from a housing association. Delivering a new deal for tenants is central to our ambitions for a fairer Scotland, tackling child poverty and meeting climate change targets.
“Above all else it will significantly improve the lives of Scotland’s tenants, giving them more stability, more choice over where they live and how they decorate their homes, and the confidence that their home will be of a high quality. At the same time it will recognise the interests of good quality, responsible landlords.
“We will be working in partnership with landlords, letting agents, tenants and others to deliver this strategy, and we want to gather the broadest range of views. I would encourage anyone with an interest to respond to our consultation.”
Harvie’s announcement tied in with 108 page consultation document that boasts Scotland has already imposed measures against landlords who hope to increase rents, and more so than any other areas in the UK.
The SNP introduced in December 2017 The Private Residential Tenancy concept limiting landlords to make just one rent increase in 12 months and must provide a three month notice before being allowed to go ahead.
This of course allowed tenants to involve a Rent Officer to challenge an increase which would then be adjudicated by the official.
Harvie’s rent control document outlining his proposals are included in his consultation document:
“Vision for future rent controls: Tenants pay affordable and reasonable rent for good quality homes, helping to support efforts to reduce poverty and improve outcomes for low income tenants and their families.
“Underlying principles for national rent controls:
• They will have an appropriate mechanism to allow local authorities to introduce local measures.
• They will be evidence based.
• Their design will support and encourage the private rented sector to improve the quality of rented properties.
• Policy development on rent control legislation will seek to learn from the processes already in place for social sector tenants in relation to rent levels.
• Policy will be developed taking into consideration the views of all stakeholders but with a particular focus on giving private tenants a stronger voice.”
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