Housing Bill: Renter’s right to grow will boost nature recovery
Scottish Green MSP Maggie Chapman has lodged a proposal that would allow renters to use their outdoor spaces for growing plants and vegetables without needing permission from landlords.
Ms Chapman’s proposal to the Housing (Scotland) Bill is a much needed boost for nature restoration. It would mean plants such as wildflowers and small bee hives can be cultivated in renter’s gardens to help repopulate the bees and other insects that are vital for ours and our ecosystems survival.
Allowing more people to grow their own fruit and veg will also help bring sustainably homegrown, seasonal, fresh produce into more households and helps towards our climate action targets.
Ms Chapman said:
“In built-up areas where green space is limited to public parks and a few allotments, this is a much needed change for people and planet.
“Renters' rights to use the spaces they pay for should extend to their gardens.
“Growing food sources or plants for pollinators is a great way to enjoy and access outdoor spaces. They should not have to ask permission from private landlords to do so when this is a move that benefits both people and planet.
“This is a small but significant change for renters to make the homes they pay towards feel like their own, and to do some good for the environment and their families.
“Outdoor spaces attached to properties should be there to enjoy and to utilise for good causes and this Bill must ensure that this is enshrined in law.”