Tenants 'have nothing left to give' as Holyrood rally urges MSPs to support rent controls

Tenants with "nothing left to give" protested outside the Scottish Parliament on Wednesday, November 27, calling on politicians to support rent controls ahead of the Housing Bill decision tomorrow.

MSPs are set to vote on the first stage of the Housing Bill on Thursday which if passed would have rent controls passed into law in Scotland as well as other measures such as protection against illegal evictions and the right to keep a pet and to redecorate as a tenant, reports the Record.

READ NEXT - Notorious Edinburgh stalker used fake social media accounts to terrorise woman

READ MORE: Dr Martens cut £54 from winter boots that 'feel like comfy slippers'

READ MORE: Edinburgh bin hub site rules to be relaxed after concerns over disruption

READ NEXT - Masked Edinburgh youths pull reckless stunts on wrong side of city centre road

The protest comes in the wake of new Scottish Government statistics published on Tuesday that show rent increased by 61.3% since 2010.

In Scotland's major cities it's even higher, as rent has increased at a rate that is double inflation in Lothian - 104.4%.

Union Living Rent told the Record tenants have "nothing to give", adding: "Tenants are on their knees and this parliament needs to act and deliver rent controls that regulate the uncapped profits of landlords.

"MSPs have a historic opportunity to show what a progressive response to the housing crisis looks like.”

The Scottish Government declared a national housing emergency in 2023, in response to extreme pressures on social housing and rent prices. To date 13 of the 32 Local Authorities in Scotland have declared a housing emergency.

Sign up for Edinburgh Live newslettersfor more headlines straight to your inbox

Housing costs are the largest financial outgoing in most households and Scotland’s lowest paid workers pay up to 50% or more of their take home pay on housing, research has found.

Over 2024, new rents across Scotland increased by 6.2% to an average of £893 per month, up £52 per month compared with the previous year. Lothian had the highest average monthly two bedroom rents at £1,358.=

Scottish Greens Co-Leader Patrick Harvie said: "If we get it right, the Housing Bill could be one of the most important pieces of legislation that will be introduced in the lifetime of this parliament, so we have to make sure it’s not watered down.

"All over our country, there are households and families struggling to make ends meet and worrying about how they will pay their rent. It doesn't need to be like this.

"We need to ensure that this Bill is robust and that it gives tenants the protection, stability and peace of mind that they need. That should include making rents more affordable, and helping to repair our broken housing market."

Lilian Macer, UNISON Scotland Regional Secretary, said: "Housing issues play a significant part in the recruitment and retention crisis we have in our public services; with high private rents, insecurity and poor quality accommodation making many areas difficult to live in.

"It’s a particular difficulty for our younger members. They tell us that they are struggling with their rent, are unable to get a mortgage and have given up on getting social housing. They need strong enforceable rent controls – that are attached to properties , not tenancies. We are supportive of the measures currently contained in the Housing Bill and can see no valid reason for diluting or abandoning any of them."

Jeanette Findlay, UCU Scotland President, said:“The private rented sector is a major housing provider for both university staff and students. Rent controls are an important part of this and we’d urge MSPs to vote for the principles of this bill and build a housing system that works for tenants.”

Join Edinburgh Live's Whatsapp Community hereand get the latest news sent straight to your messages.