Eye-watering rent increases across Scotland show the urgent need for a robust system of rent controls, say the Scottish Greens.
The comments from the party’s social justice spokesperson, Maggie Chapman, come as new Scottish Government Private Sector Rent Statistics show that the cost of a one-bedroom property has increased by 9.6%, reaching £710 per month, while the cost of a two-bedroom property has increased by 6.2%, reaching £893 per month.
Ms Chapman said:
“All over Scotland households and families are being stretched to their limits by soaring rents and living costs.
“Everyone has the right to a warm, safe and affordable home, but far too many people are struggling with a broken and deeply unfair housing market.
“These rent hikes are hugely outstripping wages and inflation and plunging tenants into totally avoidable poverty.
“What the numbers don’t tell us about is the huge levels of concern and anxiety these hikes are causing.
“By introducing robust rent controls that can actually bring rents down, not just keep them rising slowly, we can begin to tackle some of the exploitation that is central to the current market.
“We must build a system that works for tenants.”
On Thursday the Scottish Parliament will consider the Housing Bill which will introduce new protections for tenants, including a system of rent controls.
The Scottish Government has already said that it intends to water down the Bill with amendments that will ensure above-inflation rent hikes.
Ms Chapman said:
“Rents are already far too high for a lot of people, and we need to take action that will actually reduce them rather than entrenching the unacceptable levels of child poverty and inequality that are so prevalent.
“We must ensure that this Bill is as robust as possible.
“It must give tenants the protection, stability and peace of mind that they need.
“Homes should be for living in and not for profiteering.”