ROBUST rent controls are key to helping fix a “broken system” and tackle the housing emergency, but will need cross-party unity the Scottish Greens have said.
Equality spokesperson for the party, Maggie Chapman, has urged all political parties to unite around “bold solutions” that will protect tenants.
One solution Chapman has proposed is using emergency legislation to temporarily freeze rents in a bid to protect tenants from paying “sky-high” rents.
The Green’s call for cross-party unity comes ahead of speculation that the SNP is preparing to “water down” rent controls and tenant protections,
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Last month John Swinney confirmed the Housing Bill, which was introduced by Scottish Greens co-leader Patrick Harvie back in March, would be amended by the government.
It was reported in September that a senior Scottish Government source said the government would be exercising a “light touch approach” to housing regulations.
Chapman (below) said that Scottish housing is an area where all parties must work together to find a solution which helps protect tenants and added that if the SNP “waters down” the bill it will be a betrayal to all renters.
She said: “The housing emergency cannot be solved through warm words. It will need bold action and solutions. The system is broken. All over Scotland there are tenants paying sky high rents for unstable and insecure tenancies.
“When the Scottish Greens were in government we alleviated some of the stress and anxiety that households and families are feeling by using emergency legislation to temporarily freeze rents and protect tenants. We need to build on that with permanent protections and rent controls.
“This is an area where all parties can and must work together. Every MSP represents tenants on the frontline of the crisis, and we should all be working to protect them.
“If the SNP waters down the upcoming Housing Bill it will be a betrayal of every tenant who has placed their faith in them. It is one of the most crucial bills we will debate in this parliament and key to tackling the crisis that so many are experiencing.”
The SNP has been approached for comment.
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