HOMELESS FIGURES SHOW ACTION NEEDED IN PRIVATE RENTED SECTOR
Green MSP Patrick Harvie, whose Rent Rights campaign is pushing for greater protection for private sector tenants, is highlighting figures showing the number of people becoming homeless from the sector has risen sharply over the past five years.
A Shelter Scotland report says almost one fifth of homeless applications made in 2013-14 came from the private rented sector, a rise of 38 per cent in five years.
Patrick said:
"These figures highlight the fact that a lack of social rented housing, and the costs involved in becoming an owner-occupier, means for many private rented housing is the only option. If we regulated it we could push out some of the worst elements, something good landlords and agencies should welcome.
"I want to see greater security of tenure, considered standard in many other countries, rather than short term leases, and we must explore measures to tackle rising rental costs. The Government also needs to act on the supply side, and build more homes."