TENANTS’ union Living Rent took their demand for permanent rent controls to the First Minister’s constituency office today.
Living Rent members from across Glasgow marched through Govan to Humza Yousaf’s office, delivering an open letter warning of the disastrous consequences of rent controls ending in April.
Addressing the rally, Living Rent national campaign delegate Jen Bell said: “Come April you can expect your rents to be hiked up by 12 per cent, or up to ‘market value,’ whichever is higher.
“No protections whatever except for a number your landlord plucked out of thin air.
“The choice is simple. The Scottish government can continue to stand by as thousands of our neighbours are priced out of their homes, and the landlords rake it in.
“Or they can meet our demand for a national rent cap until the introduction of permanent, robust rent controls.
“Which side are you on? Living Rent? Or landlord’s theft?”
Responding to the letter, Green Tenants’ Rights Minister Patrick Harvie stated the temporary legislation had struck “an important balance between protection for tenants and the rights of landlords,” adding: “We have proposed that from April 1, tenants continue to have additional protection.”
