Increased rights for tenants is welcomed by Green MSP Greer
West Scotland MSP Ross Greer has welcomed his party’s new Housing Bill – which aims to introduce rent controls, increase rights and protections for tenants and reduce homelessness.
The Bill, which was introduced to parliament by Scottish Greens co-leader and minister for tenants’ rights Patrick Harvie, includes powers to:
■Implement a national system of rent controls
■Improve protections from evictions for tenants
■Introduce new rights for tenants, including the right to decorate their home and to keep pets; and to help people exit joint tenancies
■Create new penalties and compensation for illegal evictions
■Reuse long-term unclaimed deposits, currently worth £4 million, for services which will benefit tenants
This legislation will build on the emergency law previously passed by the Scottish Greens’ co-leader in 2022 which introduced a temporary rent cap and eviction protections during the cost-of-living crisis.
It was lifted on March 31 – the final date allowed under the emergency law. In the short term, new protections are now in place which will limit rent rises in Renfrewshire.
Under the new regulations, tenants must be given three months’ notice of any rent rise, which they can then challenge via a tribunal. This will limit rent increases until the new permanent rent controls are introduced.
Mr Greer said: “Our Bill will be a huge step forward for tenants, offering the kind of protections and rent controls which are normal across Europe.
“It’s not just bricks and mortar that make our homes. It’s all of the personal touches that make it truly our own but the right to decorate and to keep pets are denied to hundreds of thousands of tenants across the country.
“I am delighted that this Bill will give tenants in Renfrewshire those rights as well as a whole host of new protections from eviction and from exploitation by rogue landlords.
“The Scottish Greens want everyone in Renfrewshire to have a warm, secure and affordable home to call their own. I’m proud that through our role in government we are taking these steps towards making that a reality for all.”