CAMPAIGNERS last night hailed an “incredible first step” towards better housing for hundreds of thousands of Scots after MSPs voted to modernise the private rental sector.

Under the changes, tenancy agreements will be simplified, grounds for eviction changed to protect renters’ rights and councils will be given the power to set price limits in “pressure zones”.

Last night Living Rent, which pushed for the changes, hailed the changes but also said that more could be done.

Activist Liz Ely said: “Today marks an incredible first step towards decent housing for Scotland’s private sector tenants and a huge relief to so many of us who are living in insecure rented housing.

“An increasing number of Scots have to turn to the private rental markets to get a roof over their heads, but until now the sector has essentially been a free-for-all with next to no security for tenants and hardly any rules for landlords.

“This new bill will mean that tenants can no longer be kicked out of their homes for no reason

“It will introduce some restraint to rent hikes.

“We are still far off from the secure and professional rental markets many other European countries have.”

She added: “Since Living Rent first started campaigning, we’ve managed to increase security of tenure significantly, make tenancies more flexible and put rent firmly on the agenda with the SNP voting to support national rent controls just last week .

“But our work is far from over. Homelessness is still rife, Scotland’s tenants still have little chance to secure a long-term home and rents are still rising through the roof.

“In today’s economy where an increasing number of people will never have the reassurance of owning their own home, a strong tenants’ movement is more important than ever and Living Rent will continue to campaign for rent controls and a better deal for people renting from the private sector.”

Around 700,000 people live in the private rental sector which represents 14 per cent of the country’s housing, up from five per cent in 1999.

The proportion of social rented accommodation has fallen, as have the level of owner-occupiers.

Housing and homelessness charity Shelter Scotland welcomed the passing of the new legislation, calling it “a welcome and progressive move forward”.

Director Graeme Brown said: “This bill represents the biggest move forward in private tenancy law in the last quarter of a century and we welcome many of the changes it contains.

“It will significantly rebalance the relationship between tenants and landlords to modernise and strengthen the rights of the growing number of private rented sector tenants in Scotland.

“The improved security of tenure for private renters and an easy to understand, modernised new tenancy will benefit landlords and tenants alike.

“The abolition of ‘no fault’ eviction combined with a flexible and secure tenancy will help families in particular put down roots in their communities and help people to stay in their home for as long as they need.”

Housing Minister Margaret Burgess said the SNP will scrap fees for cases taken before the new Housing and Property Tribunal if re-elected.

Green Party Co-convener Patrick Harvie cautioned that there remains “much more to do” to make standards comparable to many European countries.

He said: “We can, and must go further to make the private rented sector a safe and affordable place for people to live.

“We want to see a proper system of nationwide rent controls implemented during the next parliament.

“We want to see regulations that make it possible for tenants to stay in the properties they rent for as long as they need to, even when the property is sold.

“With a growing number of Scots being forced to rent privately, we have to make sure that they can find a secure, affordable home there.”


The National View: All housing must be fit to call home