The Green party in Scotland has launched a last-ditch bid to both keep current rent controls and ban ‘winter evictions’.

They were in government with the Scottish National Party until April last year, and it was a Green minister, Patrick Harvie, who introduced rent measures.

Capped

Now, they are opposed to the SNP’s proposal, under the new Housing (Scotland) Bill, to ensure rent increases in designated areas will be capped at the Consumer Price Index (CPI) plus 1%, with a maximum limit of 6%.

The rent cap will apply to rent increases both during a tenancy and, crucially in between tenancies as well.

There has been a temporary rent arbitration scheme in place for the last year.

We have 20 days to protect crucial renters’ rights.”

“We have 20 days to protect crucial renters’ rights,” says Scottish Green MSP Maggie Chapman (main picture), who has warned the Scottish Government against ending temporary rent controls on 1 April.

Chapman says: “Unless the SNP acts, rogue landlords will be counting down the days until April 1st.

“The Housing Market is broken. We need more and better regulations if we are to tackle the rising cost of housing, not fewer.

Evictions ban

“We are in a housing emergency. We need to act like it. That means ensuring strong and permanent protections that allow renters to make their houses into homes,” she says.

The Greens have also put forward an amendment to the bill that would ban evictions between November and March each year.

End of temporary rent controls welcomed by industry

Pic credit: Scottish Greens