New rent cap law reaches next rung
Legislation would allow tenants to pay ‘fair rate’
A RENT cap for private tenancies in Scotland has come a step closer after MSPs agreed to consider the proposal.
Members of Holyrood’s local government committee had said in June it wouldn’t have time to consider the Fair Rents (Scotland) Bill before May’s election.
But after pressure from Scottish Labour and Govan Law Centre solicitor advocate Mike D ai l ly, the committee has said it will reconsider the bill and has appealed for evidence.
Dailly said: “Govan Law Centre is delighted the Scottish Parliament is now considering Pauline McNeill’s Fair Rents (Scotland) Bill. The inequity of unfair rents needs to be tackled and tenants need meaningful rights in Scotland.
“We encourage all tenants and relevant organisations to submit evidence to the local government committee on the need for this bill and rent controls.”
The legislation would allow private tenants to apply at any time to a rent officer for a “fair open market rent” to be set for a
Unfair rents need to be tackled and tenants need meaningful rights MIKE DAILLY GOVAN LAW CENTRE SOLICITOR
property. It could also see landlords forced to share more information – such as how much a property is rented for – on the existing national register.
Pauline McNeil, Labour’s equalities spokeswoman at Holyrood, said: “I was very concerned about the position of backbenchers like myself who put years of effort into a bill proposal only for it to be dropped by a committee. For that reason, I was very pleased that Mike Dailly, of his own accord, took a petition to the Court of Session on behalf of his client Jayne Ely.
“I am absolutely delighted that the local government committee have now had a change of heart.
“I call on the Scottish Government to listen to renters in these difficult times and support this bill as a first step in serious law reform in the private rented sector.”
Jayne Ely, of campaign group Living Rent, said: “It is important for low income families like mine that this issue is taken seriously, especially given the effect the coronavirus is having on our incomes and jobs.”
Committee convener James Dornan said: “The proportion of households in private rented housing now stands at just under 15 per cent.
“As the private rented sector in Scotland has grown over the last couple of decades, there have been various reforms to tighten the regulation of landlords and give tenants more rights.
“But the stated ambition behind this bill is to change the balance of power further.
“It would cap rent increases to one per cent plus CPI and allow tenants more scope to challenge rents.
“We are keen to hear views about whether this further change is necessary and whether the provisions in the bill are workable and will have the intended impact.
“We also want to find out what the financial impact of this bill would be upon private tenants, landlords, the wider rented sector and others.”