SCOTTISH Greens are to set out a “new deal” for housing which would see tenants given the right to request a cut in rents while landlords could be barred from evicting people to force the sale of properties.
MSP Andy Wightman also said the party wanted to see a “significant expansion of affordable housing” noting that in the Austrian city of Vienna more than 60% of households live in social housing.
He outlined the party’s plans for tackling the “housing crisis” as he addressed the Scottish Greens’ virtual conference.
The Lothian MSP said: “Scotland continues to face a housing crisis.
“Homelessness is on the rise, many young people in particular are struggling to afford housing, before forced into the private rented sector with exorbitant rents in places like Edinburgh.
“We’re failing because housing is framed as a property-rights issue rather than a human-rights issue, because housing is seen as a financial investment rather than a place to call home.”
He complained the system was “skewed” with more rights given to landlords than to tenants, but added: “Greens will be proposing a new deal for Scottish housing.”
This will include “realistic and effective rent controls, including the right to request a rent reduction”, Wightman pledged, as well as “an end to eviction grounds, such as the wish of the landlord to sell”.
Why are you making commenting on The National only available to subscribers?
We know there are thousands of National readers who want to debate, argue and go back and forth in the comments section of our stories. We’ve got the most informed readers in Scotland, asking each other the big questions about the future of our country.
Unfortunately, though, these important debates are being spoiled by a vocal minority of trolls who aren’t really interested in the issues, try to derail the conversations, register under fake names, and post vile abuse.
So that’s why we’ve decided to make the ability to comment only available to our paying subscribers. That way, all the trolls who post abuse on our website will have to pay if they want to join the debate – and risk a permanent ban from the account that they subscribe with.
The conversation will go back to what it should be about – people who care passionately about the issues, but disagree constructively on what we should do about them. Let’s get that debate started!
Callum Baird, Editor of The National
Comments: Our rules
We want our comments to be a lively and valuable part of our community - a place where readers can debate and engage with the most important local issues. The ability to comment on our stories is a privilege, not a right, however, and that privilege may be withdrawn if it is abused or misused.
Please report any comments that break our rules.
Read the rules here