Tenants’ voices must be at heart of housing policy
The voices of tenants must be at the heart of housing policy, and must be heard at least as loudly as those of property investors, says Scottish Green MSP Maggie Chapman.
Ms Chapman was speaking at First Minister’s Questions, during which she hailed the work being led by Scottish Green Minister, Patrick Harvie, to deliver the New Deal for Tenants. This will deliver on long-standing Scottish Green priorities, including protections against evictions, a framework for long term rent controls and new rights for tenants to have pets and decorate their homes.
The Scottish Greens believe that homes should be for living and feeling safe in, not for making profit.
Ms Chapman called on the Scottish Government to ensure that the proposals are robust against legal challenge and that they centre the voices of tenants.
Speaking at FMQs, Ms Chapman said: “Yesterday’s Housing Bill publication is an important step in delivering the New Deal for Tenants.
“It includes key policies that Scottish Greens consider vital: protections against evictions, a framework for long term rent controls, new rights for tenants to have pets and decorate their homes. I know many want it to go further. But vested interests say it’s already too radical.
“Can the First Minister say how the Scottish Government has sought to make these proposals robust against legal challenge, and can he commit to ensuring that the voices of tenants are heard as loudly as those of property investors?”