Fed-up tenants with “nothing left to give” staged a rally outside the Scottish Parliament calling on politicians to back rent controls ahead of the Housing Bill tomorrow.
MSPs are set to vote on the first stage of the Housing Bill on Thursday which if passed would have rent controls passed into law in Scotland as well as other measures such as protection against illegal evictions and the right to keep a pet and to redecorate as a tenant.
It comes as new annual statistics from the Scottish Government published yesterday show rent increased by 61.3% since 2010. In Scotland’s major cities it’s even higher, as rent has increased at a rate that is double inflation in Lothian – 104.4%. While in Greater Glasgow rent increased over 81% in that period.
Union Living Rent told the Record tenants have “nothing to give” as they headed the rally. “Tenants are on their knees and this parliament needs to act and deliver rent controls that regulate the uncapped profits of landlords,” they said. “MSPs have a historic opportunity to show what a progressive response to the housing crisis looks like.”
In the past year, due to the pressure of increased rents and a shortage of social housing the Scottish Government declared a national housing emergency. To date 13 of the 32 Local Authorities in Scotland have declared a housing emergency
Housing costs are the largest financial outgoing in most households and Scotland’s lowest paid workers pay up to 50% or more of their take home pay on housing, research has found.
Over 2024, new rents across Scotland increased by 6.2% to an average of £893 per month, up £52 per month compared with the previous year. Lothian had the highest average monthly two bedroom rents at £1,358.
Last week, paramedic Logan Vaughn told the Record his rent increased by almost £500 a month in Glasgow after he desperatley searched for a new home due to an eviction. Homelessness stemming from the private sector has also increased by 22% since 2022. In 2024, the Scottish Homelessness Monitor suggests homelessness could rise by a third.
Scottish Greens Co-Leader Patrick Harvie said: “If we get it right, the Housing Bill could be one of the most important pieces of legislation that will be introduced in the lifetime of this parliament, so we have to make sure it’s not watered down.
“All over our country, there are households and families struggling to make ends meet and worrying about how they will pay their rent. It doesn’t need to be like this.
“We need to ensure that this Bill is robust and that it gives tenants the protection, stability and peace of mind that they need. That should include making rents more affordable, and helping to repair our broken housing market.”
Lilian Macer, UNISON Scotland Regional Secretary, said: “Housing issues play a significant part in the recruitment and retention crisis we have in our public services; with high private rents, insecurity and poor quality accommodation making many areas difficult to live in.
“It’s a particular difficulty for our younger members. They tell us that they are struggling with their rent, are unable to get a mortgage and have given up on getting social housing. They need strong enforceable rent controls – that are attached to properties , not tenancies. We are supportive of the measures currently contained in the Housing Bill and can see no valid reason for diluting or abandoning any of them.”
Jeanette Findlay, UCU Scotland President, said:“The private rented sector is a major housing provider for both university staff and students. Rent controls are an important part of this and we’d urge MSPs to vote for the principles of this bill and build a housing system that works for tenants.”
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