RENT controls should be introduced in Scotland because “timid actions” to protect tenants are not working, the Scottish Greens have said.

The party has echoed a call from the Scottish Citizens’ Assembly that recommended the introduction of a cap on rent increases.

Co-leader Patrick Harvie argued “rents have rapidly outstripped inflation” and called for urgent measures to support renters.

A policy was introduced in 2016, allowing councils to ask for limited powers to restrict rent rises, but no local authority has introduced a rent pressure zone to date.

But Harvie criticised it as “useless” and unused, and demanded more be done both during and beyond the Covid crisis.

He said: “The Scottish Government has failed to adequately protect tenants as rents have rapidly outstripped inflation over the last decade.

“Throughout the pandemic, Greens have pushed ministers to protect renters and we have made substantial progress; securing the introduction and then extension of a winter eviction ban as well as a tenant hardship fund.

“While it’s essential that emergency measures are in place, we must also look at how tenants can be supported longer term too.

“Scotland is decades behind many of our European neighbours when it comes to tenants’ rights.

“Protections like winter evictions bans and rent controls are commonplace across the continent.”

Housing minister Kevin Stewart said he shared concerns around rent affordability and the Government had provided financial support and strengthened safeguards for private tenants through the Covid-19 crisis.

“We have already introduced a range of significant reforms through our 2016 Private Housing Act to improve the sector,” he said.

“This includes providing private renters with a range of new rights and greater security, stability and predictability in their rents – as well as introducing measures to help tackle increasing rents, such as rent pressure zones.

“We realise the evidencing need for a rent pressure zone is a considered process and that is why we are currently considering what changes we need to make to better support an application being brought forward by a local authority”.