MSPs to vote on amendments to Housing Bill

MSPs are set to vote on the Scottish Government’s Housing Bill, described as a “gold standard” for homelessness prevention, in a marathon session on Tuesday.

The Housing (Scotland) Bill will give councils the power to bring in rent controls, make it easier for tenants to have a pet and require landlords to promptly repair issues in homes.

The Scottish Government has also pointed to the “gold standard” homelessness prevention measures in the Bill, which would require public bodies to ask if someone is at risk of homelessness and to take action if they are.

Speaking ahead of the stage three proceedings, Housing Secretary Mairi McAllan said: “We have the opportunity to create a gold standard homelessness system in Scotland by passing the Housing Bill.

“We already have some of the strongest homeless rights in the world. However, this legislation will go even further to protect and support people threatened with homelessness.”

Figures released last week showed the rates of rough sleeping at their highest level on record, while the Scottish Parliament declared a national housing emergency last year.

The minister proposed a plan earlier this month to spend almost £5 billion in the next five years, aiming to build 36,000 affordable homes.

But the Bill has been criticised for slowly watering down its flagship rent controls, first by allowing for rents to be increased by inflation plus one percentage point and then due to Ms McAllan’s announcement earlier this month that the caps would not apply to mid-market rent and build-to-let properties over concerns they could stifle housebuilding.

Tenants’ union Living Rent said the Government had “totally conceded to the demands of landlords”, while the Scottish Greens were also critical.

The Greens helped to shape the Bill before it was proposed, while former co-leaders Patrick Harvie and Lorna Slater served as ministers, and have proposed a raft of amendments to the legislation, including barring evictions for the first year of a tenancy and in winter and to bring the period council tax arrears are written off forward from 20 years to six.

Despite the number of amendments proposed by the Greens, it is understood they will back the legislation, meaning – barring an SNP rebellion – the Bill will be passed when it goes before Holyrood for a final vote on Wednesday.

Green MSP Maggie Chapman described the Bill as a “huge step forward for renters”.

“Far too many renters are having to fork out huge sums for extortionate rents, while living in substandard accommodation and in a state of constant anxiety. Things need to change,” she said.

She added: “We are tabling amendments that we believe will make this bill even stronger and allow more security and peace of mind for individual renters and families.

“We hope that the Government will work with us to make it as bold and robust a bill as it can be and that we can ensure Scotland’s renters are the best protected anywhere in the UK.”

Almost 400 amendments are expected to be put to MSPs on Tuesday in a session expected to run into the night.

While the Scottish Tories are likely to vote against the legislation, with the party’s housing spokeswoman Meghan Gallacher describing the rent control provisions as “reckless”.

“Making this botched measure permanent will drive away investors, slash the available housing stock for tenants and cost the sector billions,” she said.