Scottish government proposes rent cap to ‘stabilise rents’
1 year ago | 4 comments
The SNP’s rent control U-turn is a ‘disappointment for tenants’
12:06 AM, 12th November 2024, 1 year ago
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The Green Party co-leader in the Scottish Government says the SNP government has bowed to pressure from the landlord lobby and significantly weakened its proposed rent control measures.
That is, Patrick Harvie says, a blow to tenants across Scotland.
Writing in the Glasgow Times, he says that despite initial plans to introduce robust rent controls, the SNP has opted for a watered-down approach.
While local councils will still have the power to designate rent control areas, the ability to cap rent increases will be severely limited.
‘Gave in to pressure from the landlord lobby’
The MSP, who was part of a power-sharing agreement, writes: “After introducing the Bill earlier this year to address the sky-high rents many people are paying, the First Minister gave in to pressure from the landlord lobby and signalled a U-turn, but he didn’t say what changes he would make.
“Even when the rents people are paying are extreme, the strongest action the Government will allow will keep your rent going up faster than food, energy and your other bills.
“Rent control could be one of the most crucial steps that our Parliament takes to address the cost-of-living crisis and support people who are having their budgets stretched from all directions.
“But this new, weaker system will not give tenants the security or stability that they need.”
‘Housing is a human right’
Mr Harvie goes on to say that ‘housing is a human right’ and the SNP is appeasing landlords who worry more about profits than the ‘wellbeing of tenants’.
Along with high rents, Mr Harvie also warns that there’s impact on the public purse as councils spend £720 million on temporary accommodation.
There’s a bill of nearly £100m a year for Discretionary Housing Payments.
Mr Harvie dismisses the landlord lobby’s claims that rent controls would harm the housing market.
He insists that rent controls can and should work – especially in tandem with building new homes the country needs.
The Green MSP also calls for ‘better rights for tenants’ which should not be seen as a radical idea.
Tags:
Cost of living, Cost of Living and Housing Crisis, Green Party on Housing Reforms, housing crisis, Impact of High Rents in Scotland, Private Rental Sector, Public Spending on Temporary Housing, Rent Control, scotland, Scottish rent control debate, snp, SNP Rent Control U-Turn, Tenant rights, Tenant Rights and Rent Stability
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Member Since February 2020 - Comments: 360
11:33 AM, 12th November 2024, About 1 year ago
If housing is a human right, who is to define what is housing (EPC levels , room size, etc) is and who has a duty to pay for it.
Which other rights must be sacrificed and duties created in order to provide this right and is that ok. Without specifying these aspects it is only an aspiration.
Member Since March 2018 - Comments: 182
12:31 PM, 12th November 2024, About 1 year ago
Sensible decision. They probably looked at the Ireland experience whose similar policies actually worked against tenants interest in practice, and did not help them.
Member Since May 2024 - Comments: 111
1:18 PM, 12th November 2024, About 1 year ago
If a government wants to make housing and food and heating human rights then they need to supply them. Private individuals who have invested their own cash to do the same require a reasonable return and reason to do so otherwise they will stop doing it.
Private landlords are not rising up to stop councils from supplying housing, this problem of supply is solely a government issue.
Member Since January 2016 - Comments: 67
1:27 PM, 12th November 2024, About 1 year ago
Yes, housing is a right but that right does not override that of an owner of the house to be rented. Landlords have rights too. Furthermore, it is crass and idiotic to impose control over how much rent a landlord can charge for on his / her property, when reciprocal control does not exist on costs he / she (not they) has to stomach. I.e. mortgage payment, insurance premium, repairs, EPC, GSC, EICR etc. It is shameful that those who run the Govt have no iota of clue about basic economics and market forces. Those like Patrick Harvie and mere Looney Marxists whose heads are in the cloud in Lala land. He needs to focus his attention of building plenty of low costing housing to give out to people by right need a roof over their heads.
Member Since October 2022 - Comments: 204
6:14 PM, 12th November 2024, About 1 year ago
Reply to the comment left by Downsize Government at 12/11/2024 – 11:33
Whilst we are bound by law to respect other people’s rights, landlords are private individuals who provide housing services to those that need them and contract with them. There is no law in the country that says that a private person or even a company is obliged to continue to meet the material needs of another person with whom they are not connected. That is the role of governments, whose duty it is to ensure that every member of the populace has a viable standard of living, whether that be by providing dedicated social housing or by contracting with companies or individuals.
Member Since July 2013 - Comments: 74
8:32 PM, 12th November 2024, About 1 year ago
Maybe the first minister slightly acknowledged that landlords were leaving in droves over the proposed rent controls. That might be why the temporary housing bill is so high.