EMERGENCY legislation which would freeze rents and ban evictions until April will be introduced and debated in Holyrood today.
The Cost of Living (Protection of Tenants) (Scotland) Bill was announced as part of the Programme for Government last month in response to the cost of living crisis.
If MSPs vote in favour of treating the Bill as emergency legislation – which is highly likely, given the agreement between the SNP and the Scottish Greens in Parliament – an expedited process will see the first stage take place today, the second tomorrow and a final vote on Thursday.
Holyrood’s Local Government, Housing and Planning Committee will take evidence from interested parties and hear from Tenants’ Rights Minister Patrick Harvie today.
The Scottish Federation of Housing Associations (SFHA) said the freeze could mean their members would stop building affordable new homes, adding that the proposals have “serious, unintended consequences”.
READ MORE: Chancellor Kwasi Kwarteng acknowledges 'tough' day in defiant Tory conference speech
The federation, which will be among those appearing before the committee, has also written to First Minister Nicola Sturgeon, urging her to reconsider the move.
Work by the SFHA suggests that seven of its members, who have not been named, estimate they would collectively lose more than £100 million over the next 30 years if the legislation is passed.
SFHA chief executive Sally Thomas said: “We understand and share the intention to help people who are facing real poverty and desperate situations as a result of the cost of living crisis. Our members see first-hand the seriousness of the situation and are doing everything they can to support their tenants. However, the Scottish Government’s rent freeze proposals have serious, unintended consequences which must be considered.
“Housing associations are not-for-profit, charitable organisations whose rents are consistently around half the level charged in the private sector, without any government interventions.
“Housing associations are required by law to set social rents in consultation with tenants, providing them with certainty about their rents as part of a tenancy that is theirs for life.
“As a consequence of the power to set their own rents being removed, our members will find it difficult to consult with tenants as usual and cannot plan their vital work for next year.
“This removes power from tenants and reduces their say in their rents and services, effectively sidelining them from the process.”
Speaking during the Programme for Government announcement on September 6, Sturgeon said: “In what is perhaps the most significant announcement I will make today, I can confirm to Parliament that we will take immediate action to protect tenants in the private and in the social rented sectors. I can announce that we will shortly introduce emergency legislation to Parliament.
“The purpose of the emergency law will be twofold. Firstly, it will aim to give people security about the roof over their heads this winter through a moratorium on evictions.
“Secondly, the legislation will include measures to deliver a rent freeze.”
The Programme for Government said ministers plan to “introduce emergency legislation to protect tenants by freezing rents and imposing a moratorium on evictions until at least March 31, 2023”.
“We also intend to act to prevent immediate rent increases,” it added.
Why are you making commenting on The National only available to subscribers?
We know there are thousands of National readers who want to debate, argue and go back and forth in the comments section of our stories. We’ve got the most informed readers in Scotland, asking each other the big questions about the future of our country.
Unfortunately, though, these important debates are being spoiled by a vocal minority of trolls who aren’t really interested in the issues, try to derail the conversations, register under fake names, and post vile abuse.
So that’s why we’ve decided to make the ability to comment only available to our paying subscribers. That way, all the trolls who post abuse on our website will have to pay if they want to join the debate – and risk a permanent ban from the account that they subscribe with.
The conversation will go back to what it should be about – people who care passionately about the issues, but disagree constructively on what we should do about them. Let’s get that debate started!
Callum Baird, Editor of The National
Comments: Our rules
We want our comments to be a lively and valuable part of our community - a place where readers can debate and engage with the most important local issues. The ability to comment on our stories is a privilege, not a right, however, and that privilege may be withdrawn if it is abused or misused.
Please report any comments that break our rules.
Read the rules hereLast Updated:
Report this comment Cancel