New Tenants’ Rights Minister appoint by the SNP

New Tenants’ Rights Minister appoint by the SNP

11:31 AM, 1st September 2021, About 3 years ago 10

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First Minister for Scotland, Nicola Sturgeon, has appointed the Green  MSP for Glasgow. Patrick Harvie, as the Zero Carbon Buildings, Active Travel and Tenants’ Rights Minister. Harvie will lead on delivering a new deal for tenants, and ensuring building standards are fit for purpose.

This appointment comes after the announcement of a coalition between the SNP and Green Party to form a majority in Holyrood and policy announcements supported by both parties looking to implement an effective national system of rent controls, enhance tenants’ rights as well as delivering 110,000 affordable homes by 2032.

Speaking on behalf of the Greens, West of Scotland MSP Ross Greer said: “The appointments were a moment 48 years in the making for the Greens. This afternoon, we’ll take our first place in Government, the first Greens anywhere in the UK to do so.

“Patrick Harvie will be to the best of my knowledge, the first minister for tenants who was himself evicted by an unscrupulous landlord. In fact, I think he’s the first minister to have tenants in their job title.”

It will therefore remain to be seen if Scotland can expect any kind of fair or unbiased policymaking for the PRS in the near future.

Patrick Harvey MSP

 


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Neil Patterson

9:46 AM, 2nd September 2021, About 3 years ago

Harvie told BBC Scotland “I’ve got constituents, every MSP will tell you the same thing saying they are paying far more on rent than they would for a repayment mortgage on the same property

“They don’t get any of the wider benefits of ownership. They’re living with precarious housing. They don’t have the stability of knowing that they can even, you know, just redecorate the place the way they would like.

“So we do need a package of tenants rights that will include rent controls because many people are simply paying way over the odds for what is an insecure tenure in housing.”

TheMaluka

11:34 AM, 2nd September 2021, About 3 years ago

In order to 'level the playing field' Sturgeon should also appoint a minster for landlords rights . . . thought not.

Harvie should be wary of his future for ministers concerned with housing rarely last more than a year.

Old Mrs Landlord

12:20 PM, 2nd September 2021, About 3 years ago

Constituents are paying more in rent than they would for a mortgage on the same property. Might that be because their landlord has saved for the deposit in order to get his mortgage and now is bearing all the costs of repair and maintenance, complying with the many regulations not imposed on owner occupiers, not to mention the taxes during the period he lets the property and yet more when he sells? Surely landlords are entitled to a bit of profit in return for all these burdens, not to mention the fact that they are on call 24/7 to deal with tenants' problems and the hours spent on admn.? At around £20 a day I would say tenants are getting a real bargain! Compare it to, for instance, tool hire or parking a car. It is certainly not the fault of landlords that wage rates are low.

Old Mrs Landlord

12:27 PM, 2nd September 2021, About 3 years ago

Also meant to mention that I fail to see how Scottish tenants' housing is "precarious" now that tenancies are open-ended contracts.

Seething Landlord

13:57 PM, 2nd September 2021, About 3 years ago

"they are paying far more on rent than they would for a repayment mortgage on the same property"

Typical left wing numpty remark. If they want to take on all the associated risks and additional expenses, have the necessary financial resources and can meet the affordability requirements, why do they not buy instead of renting? It's their choice.

Chris @ Possession Friend

14:15 PM, 2nd September 2021, About 3 years ago

Reply to the comment left by Seething Landlord at 02/09/2021 - 13:57
Exactly, if they think buying is cheaper, then go fill their boots.
Oh, is it that no Banks would lend to them, - touch them with a barge-pole, yet they expect Private Landlords to risk their property on them ?

The higher the risk, the higher the rates are. - and when you have incessant bureaucracy called for by Tenant groups fighting for the 5% of Rent-Dodging Tenants, don't be surprised that the effect is passed on to the 95% of compliant and legitimate tenants.

Dylan Morris

22:32 PM, 2nd September 2021, About 3 years ago

Coming soon …….. it will be illegal to “discriminate” against tenants who want to redecorate the property.

Chris @ Possession Friend

8:12 AM, 3rd September 2021, About 3 years ago

Coming next,
It will be unlawful to discriminate between those who pay rent, and those that don't !!!

Because we're not far off that now with the legislative system ( Gas certs, prescribed information etc )

Richie

0:18 AM, 4th September 2021, About 3 years ago

Reply to the comment left by Neil Patterson at 02/09/2021 - 09:46Get the councils to build houses then the private tenants can have more choice. Build enough and that will force private rates down or will it?
Have you bothered to look at some of the council/trust housing stock and the state some of them are in? Even the social housing cant maintain and keep them decent, oh, but that "human rights" for some of them to abuse, live like what ever.
What about the 3 or 4 beds with just one person in, they should be means tested and moved out, after all they are tenants, Oh again that's a human rights issue.
A few make it bad for those who look after their houses and keep them clean and tidy.

A lot of council landlords should be put to task as well. Its not just the PRS is it!

Chris @ Possession Friend

10:04 AM, 4th September 2021, About 3 years ago

Oh contraire, the Council are far worse Landlords than the majority in the PRS !
But Local Authorities are ' in the Government Housing club ' so get looked after.
Councils are allowed to raise revenue not provided from central government from minor defaulting private landlords in the form of up to £30 k Civil Penalties. There are No ( effective ) sanction against council housing.
https://www.localgovernmentlawyer.co.uk/housing-law/397-housing-news/48127-complaints-to-the-housing-ombudsman-have-risen-21-quarterly-report-shows

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