MORE action should be taken to curb “out of control” rent rises, Scottish Greens co-leader Patrick Harvie has said.
At FMQs yesterday, Harvie called on Nicola Sturgeon to introduce greater protections for tenants during the pandemic.
He said the Government’s policy of rent pressure zones has failed as no local authority has introduced one. Rules allowing councils to ask for limited powers to restrict rent rises were introduced in 2016.
Harvie pointed out that the Greens had helped to introduce other rules protecting tenants in the past, adding: “There’s still more to do, what’s missing is serious action to tackle out of control rent rises.”
He asked: “Does the First Minister accept that the idea of rent pressure zones has failed, given that there isn’t a single such zone operating anywhere in Scotland? What more does she plan to do to tackle rising rents?”
The FM replied: “The onus and flexibility is on local authorities of course to take action where they consider it necessary and appropriate to do.”
However, she accepted there is more the Government can do to help protect tenants and said the SNP will put forward proposals for further action during the Holyrood election.
Sturgeon added: “I don’t close my mind and the Government doesn’t close its mind to ... looking longer term about how we regulate the private rented sector.”
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