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Time for landlord bodies to accept need for housing action

We badly need permanent rent controls and protections for tenants.

It is time for landlord bodies to accept the overwhelming need for housing action such as a rent cap and protections for tenants, says Scottish Green MSP Gillian Mackay.

Ms Mackay made the call in a question to the First Minister, Humza Yousaf at First Minister’s Questions. The question followed a recent Court of Session ruling against a petition by landlords arguing against emergency tenants protections which were introduced to help people cope with the cost of living crisis. 

Speaking in the Chamber, Ms Mackay said:

“I strongly support our emergency legislation to cap rents and reduce evictions, led by Patrick Harvie last year, and I welcome last week’s Court of Session decision to reject a challenge to that legislation, saying that it fell far short of what is required to demonstrate that the Act disproportionately interferes with the property rights of landlords. 

“With that court decision in mind does the First Minister agree with me that it is time for landlord bodies to accept the overwhelming need for action to control high rents and to improve tenants rights and so work constructively with this government on the housing bill when it is introduced this parliamentary year?”