Plans to improve protection for renters

New protections for Renfrewshire renters could be on the horizon after a new bill was proposed by the Scottish Greens.

The party’s co-leader Patrick Harvie introduced the Housing Bill for Scotland yesterday.

The bill includes improved protections against evictions, a framework for long-term rent controls, and new rights for tenants in being allowed to make simple life-choices such as keeping pets or decorating their homes.

Scottish Greens housing spokesperson Ariane Burgess MSP said:“It means tenants can take on a tenancy knowing that they can make a proper home.

“They will see changes to how rents are set, both nationally and in rental hotspots, and protected by new powers both to tackle illegal evictions and to improve the eviction process.

“Many of us take for granted that we can personalise a home through decoration and through the companionship of a pet.

“The best landlords already recognise that tenants have the same expectations but too many don’t enjoy those simple rights until now.

“That is why this Bill must ensure that the voices of tenants are heard, not just those from property investors and landlords.

“Nowhere else in the UK will tenants’ rights be better reflected.”

The bill will now go through the parliamentary process before being granted approval.

It comes after the party also successfully installed regulations to restrict rent increases when the rent cap ends at the end of this month.

The rent cap was a cost-of-living crisis response to help protect renters from rising costs. It limited rent increases to three per cent or six per cent in exceptional circumstances.

From April 1, rent increases will effectively be capped at 12 per cent, though a formula deciding on how much rent can be increased by means many will be able to dispute increases of less than 12 per cent.