THE SNP has been accused of a “shameful betrayal of tenants” for allowing above-inflation increases to rent controls.
The announcement came as MSPs consider the Housing (Scotland) Bill, intended to let ministers create rent control zones on the recommendation of local councils.
But until now the SNP government had not set out what those controls would looks like.
Moving a government amendment to the Bill on Thursday, Housing Minister Paul McLennan told MSPs they would meet a key tenants’ demand to ensure controls remain between tenancies.
His announcement, however, that some properties such as so-called “mid-market” rentals could be exempt from controls altogether and that rent increases would be limited to 1 per cent above CPI inflation, up to a maximum of 6 per cent, has dismayed campaigners.
Setting out his priorities, he told MSPs: “We consider that allowing some margin over inflation, such as 1 per cent as has been mentioned, would give investors some assurance that over the long run, any periods when growth is below inflation may be balanced out with periods where rents may grow above inflation.”
Warning the plan “weakens” controls, tenants’ union Living Rent campaigns chair Ruth Gilbert said: “It is welcome to have clarity today from the Scottish government that rent controls will apply in between tenancies.
“However, setting a cap at above inflation — even by just 1 per cent — will bake in above-inflation rent increases for tenants, and severely weakens the rent controls we so desperately need.
“We will continue to fight for rent controls that bring out-of-control rents down, not just limit future increases.”
Scottish Green MSP and proponent of rent controls Maggie Chapman slammed the plans, stating: “This is a shameful betrayal of tenants.
“Stabilising rents at unaffordable levels is no use to anyone, apart from profiteering landlords.
“If the SNP goes ahead with these disastrous plans they will be selling out renters and entrenching a broken and unfair system.
“The landlord lobby has had a disproportionate voice in the corridors of power for far too long.
“This has created a desperate situation where tenants across our country are living with fear and anxiety because they don’t know if they can continue to afford their homes.
“This is yet another example of an SNP government that is shedding its progressive credentials.
“Homes should be for living in, not for profiteering.”
