HOUSING legislation that promises to usher in new and permanent rent controls in Scotland has passed its first parliamentary test.

The Housing (Scotland) Bill would improve the rented sector for tenants, but even with the support of Labour and Green MSPs it was not plain sailing.

Green MSP Maggie Chapman hit out at possible property exemptions in the Bill and clauses allowing above-inflation increases branding them a “capitulation to landlord interests.”

Labour housing spokesman Mark Griffin meanwhile called for a key tenant request of applying rent controls between tenancies to be dropped at stage two.

Tenants’ union Living Rent welcomed the vote, but campaign chair Ruth Gilbert warned: “Too many MSPs are repeating landlords’ myths instead of advocating for tenants.

“MSPs need to support tenants and introduce rent controls tied to the property and not the tenancy or else landlords will continue to be incentivised to evict tenants in order to increase rents.

“This Bill is a historic opportunity to turn the tide on the failed experiment of deregulation in housing, and we cannot pass it up.”