Scotland’s new leader urged to tackle housing crisis

Scotland’s new leader urged to tackle housing crisis

9:41 AM, 9th May 2024, About 2 weeks ago 2

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Propertymark is urging Scotland’s new First Minister, John Swinney, to prioritise ending the housing crisis after five Scottish councils declared a housing emergency and Mr Swinney blamed the UK government for budget cuts.

The resignation of the previous First Minister, Humza Yousaf, has thrown the future of rent control into question.

The Scottish Greens, who previously held power over housing policy, have refused to commit to a new coalition with Mr Swinney’s Scottish National Party.

This leaves the fate of a proposed bill allowing local councils to enact rent controls uncertain.

The housing emergency in Scotland

Timothy Douglas, the head of policy and campaigns at Propertymark, said: “Tackling the housing emergency in Scotland must be front and centre of his leadership.

“Having previously held senior positions within the Scottish Government, Propertymark member agents will look to Mr Swinney to confront the challenges the housing market faces head-on and work with the sector to ensure housing plays a positive role in building the economy, improving health and supporting job creation.”

Propertymark argues that the existing rent control legislation has been detrimental to the private rental sector.

It points to a survey of its members showing landlords are leaving the market and a similar percentage finding landlords more willing to raise rents between tenancies due to the controls.

Plan to bring in rent controls

However, the Scottish Greens are warning that the previous Bute House agreement should see the plan to bring in rent controls should remain.

In a statement, the Green Party’s co-leader Patrick Harvie, said: “The next Scottish Government will face an important choice.

“Will they offer a progressive vision for Scotland’s future, or will they retreat toward the tepid middle ground, which would force them to rely on the Tories and other pro-union parties?

“There are a lot of important policies already on their way to delivery as a result of the Bute House Agreement, including better rights for tenants and rent controls, transforming the way we heat our homes and a watertight ban on conversion therapy.”

 


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Comments

Martin Roberts

17:40 PM, 9th May 2024, About A week ago

Until the great and the good realise that private landlords are part of the answer, not the enemy, it's only going one way.

And, of course, the 'I' word.

Roogy

8:21 AM, 11th May 2024, About A week ago

This will never be solved until everyone stops talking about building more houses and deals with the cause - uncontrolled population growth through legal and illegal migration. How can u allow over a million people to come to the U.K. in under two years and not expect to create a housing crisis ?

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