ROGUE landlords should no longer be able to hike rents on homes that have fallen into disrepair or fail to meet standards, the Scottish Greens warned today.

MSP Maggie Chapman has tabled amendments to the upcoming Housing (Scotland) Bill to prevent rent increases if a property falls short of minimum standards for quality, repair and energy efficiency — criteria that will be set by ministers.

The proposed changes aim to strengthen renters’ rights and ensure that people across Scotland can access warm, safe and affordable housing, she said.

The Bill, which proposes a maximum private rent cap of 6 per cent and homelessness prevention duties for landlords, passed its first stage in Holyrood in December.

Ms Chapman said: “Everyone deserves a warm, safe and affordable place to call home, but all over Scotland there are rogue landlords trying to rinse renters and maximise their profits while providing sub-par accommodation that people are forced to endure.

“For far too long, far too many landlords have been able to get away with doing the bare minimum while their tenants are paying the price.

“They have left houses in disrepair and treated renters terribly while hiking up rents and knowing that they can get away with it.”

Ms Chapman warned of a need to “end the huge power imbalance,” saying: “We don’t just need stricter regulations, we also need to ensure that landlords are actually following them.

“My proposals will uphold the rights of renters and penalise the landlords who refuse to repair or upgrade their properties while charging premium prices.

“Homes must be suitable for living in and, quite frankly, far too many are not.

“I hope that all parties will back my proposals and protect renters across Scotland.”