TENANTS’ union Living Rent has called for the Scottish Government to stop “parasitic behaviour” in the rented property sector by bringing in rent controls and protecting residents.
And they are also planning a demonstration tomorrow at an Edinburgh workshop by BBC presenter and property expert Martin Roberts, aimed at maximising profits for landlords.
The group said the costs of renting in Scotland’s capital continue to rise at eye-watering levels, and that between 2010 and 2019, the Lothians saw the average price rent for a two-bedroom property rise from £665 a month to £972, a 46.3% increase over nine years.
Living Rent will use the protest to repeat its calls for the Scottish Government to introduce more effective rent control measures.
Roberts is best known for the Homes Under the Hammer daytime TV programme and, although he will not attend the free taster workshop “Making Money from Property” event in Edinburgh, it promises to show would-be landlords how to “maximise profits”.
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Living Rent said what that means is further “ripping off” Edinburgh tenants and exacerbating the city’s housing crisis.
The union said promotional material also boasted that Roberts would show landlords how to “live the life they really deserve” and teach them “rental and capital growth strategies”, as well as increasing revenue.
More than 250 people have already indicated on social media that they would take part in the protest and the union is urging more to join them.
Eleanor White, from Living Rent, said: “Scotland’s housing market is deeply broken. While we are in the midst of a housing and homelessness crisis, we need to stop looking at housing as an opportunity for landlords to make themselves a quick profit.
“The Scottish Government urgently needs to introduce stronger regulation to protect ordinary renters from exploitation, starting with strict rent controls.
“People simply won’t forgive the government if it continues to stand by and watch as people are driven further into poverty by this kind of parasitic approach to housing.”
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