Renters to have first refusal if landlords put homes up for sale, Swinney vows

John Swinney has pledged to give private renters first refusal if their home is put up for sale, if his party wins next month’s Holyrood election.

The First Minister has announced plans to introduce legislation to bring in the change if the SNP secures another term in power.

It would mean if a landlord decides to put a property on the market, tenants would be given a period of first refusal to buy it “at a fair market rate”, Mr Swinney said.

Speaking ahead of a campaign visit to Inverness on Friday, the SNP leader said such a move could “help people to put down roots and to feel secure in their own home”.

The SNP has already pledged to help first-time buyers get on the property ladder, with the promise of up to £10,000 help towards a deposit from a £100 million First Homes Find, which would be created if it wins the election.

The First Minister said: “Too many young people are being locked out of home ownership as a result of the cost-of-living crisis.

“So many people are stuck paying more on rent than they would on a mortgage – and with costs just going up and up, there is nothing left over at the end of the month to save for a deposit.

“That is made all the more difficult when private renters find themselves having to leave their home because the owner has decided to sell up. As well as forcing people to upend their whole lives, it also has serious financial implications.

“That is why I will give renters the right to first refusal on the home they live in – at a fair market rate – if the owner of the property decides to sell.

“This will help people to put down roots and to feel secure in their own home – without the risk of being turfed out against their will.

“With our £10,000 help towards a deposit for first-time buyers, the SNP is taking serious action to support our young people and unlocking the dream of home ownership for a generation that has been badly let down by Westminster.”

Scottish Labour’s housing spokesman, Mark Griffin, said: “The SNP has known about the housing emergency for years and yet has dismally failed to get to grips with the crisis.

“Not only have they failed to fix the mess, they have made things worse by allowing housebuilding to collapse. We need a change of government to end Scotland’s housing emergency and deliver a better future for people across the country.

“The idea that establishing yet another quango – taking more of taxpayers’ money – will fundamentally fix this situation is misguided and could represent poor value for money.

“Scottish Labour will deliver the most ambitious housebuilding programme in the history of devolution with 125,000 new homes, so families have the safe, secure homes they need, and home ownership can be within reach for the next generation.”