Housing Bill must be as robust as possible for tenants rights
Following the stage one debate on the Housing Bill in Parliament today, Scottish Greens spokesperson for equalities Maggie Chapman MSP said that the Scottish Government would be undermining the bill if they dilute rent controls and protections for tenants.
The bill must deliver bold, transformative action to strengthen tenants’ rights and shift the imbalance of power; putting landlords' investments second to people’s right to safe, affordable and secure tenancies in the private sector.
Ms Chapman said:
“In the midst of a housing emergency, the Housing Bill must offer hope to tenants - a recognition that bold, transformative action is needed to shift the scales of housing justice in Scotland.
“I am profoundly disappointed in the government's decision to dilute the promise of rent controls.
“Let us be absolutely clear: what the Government is proposing is not rent controls. Tenants are already struggling with the soaring costs of living, and their amendments would enshrine perpetual rent increases into law, giving landlords a green light to continue shifting their financial burden onto tenants, many of whom are already at breaking point.
“It would also undermine local authorities' ability to protect tenants from predatory rent hikes, as they will not be able to bring rents down. This government is not interested in prioritising tenants or empowering local authorities; only in appeasing landlords with vested interests, who already profit handsomely from our broken housing system.
“This Housing Bill promised true reform: empowerment for communities, protections for tenants and a place to redefine housing as a human right. Dilution of rent controls would undermine all of this."
Ms Chapman added:
"Despite this disappointment, I remain hopeful about what this legislation can achieve - if we are willing to fight for it. The Housing Bill still holds the potential to be a transformative force. It can be a tool to give tenants real security, to empower councils to act boldly for their communities, and to establish housing as a cornerstone of a fairer, greener Scotland.”