ANAS Sarwar has been challenged to back the Scottish Government’s plans for rent controls amid concerns that Labour are moving “away from tenants' rights”.
Green MSP Maggie Chapman has penned a letter to the Scottish Labour leader, seen by The National, in which she raises recent comments made by MSPs in his group about the Housing (Scotland) Bill.
The Scottish Government bill, if passed, would introduce powers for ministers to designate control areas where rent increases would be restricted, limit how often rents can be put up, require local authorities to assess rental markets, and allow renters to request to keep a pet, among other changes to the system.
The bill – which was introduced to the parliament in March and runs to some 70 pages – does not specify particular controls which could be placed on landlords.
Chapman said the bill contains “crucial progressive policies” that she argued could make a difference for hundreds of thousands of people and have strong public support.
In her letter to Sarwar, the Green MSP raised concerns that Scottish Labour would oppose the bill, and instead asked for the group’s support.
It comes after Labour MSP Daniel Johnson was quoted in Holyrood magazine as saying he backed “some form of rent regulation”, but calling the Housing Bill “unsupportable”.
And at a Local Government, Housing and Planning Committee meeting on Tuesday, Labour housing spokesperson Mark Griffin suggested the bill should be withdrawn.
“I think that most people would accept that the rent control elements are the flagship part of the bill,” he said. “Given that this is our last evidence session, and that we will be producing a stage one report, with recommendations, in the dark, without any knowledge of what the final proposals for the flagship element of this housing bill will be, has the Government given any consideration to withdrawing the bill and committing to reconsulting on whatever the final proposals are?
“Will it give the committee the chance to consult on that and to make substantive recommendations and conclusions in a relevant stage one report?”
Housing Minister Paul McLennen responded: “The answer to the question of whether we will withdraw the bill is no.”
In her letter to Sarwar, Chapman raised the comments from Johnson, and argued that reconsulting on the bill as Griffin had suggested “would hugely delay it and make it far less likely to pass in this parliamentary session”.
Chapman said: “We cannot have a parliamentary term without progress on housing, not when so many people are suffering and not when we have the chance to introduce progressive rent controls that protect tenants from extortionate rent hikes and enhance legal protections against eviction.
“I hope that we can count on your support for these crucial progressive policies.”
The Green MSP further told The National: “A robust housing bill that protects tenants would be one of the most important legacies of this parliamentary session. It is something that all progressive voices and parties should be able to unite around and work constructively to deliver.”
She went on: “I am concerned about the possibility of the Scottish Government watering down the promises it has made, and want to work with MSPs from all parties to ensure that is not the case.
“The Labour Party has an important role to play if it is willing to do so. The vast majority of Labour supporters back rent controls, and our parliament has the power to deliver them.
“MSPs from across the chamber need to stand together and send a loud and clear message in support of tenants rights by offering the safety, stability and protections that every tenant deserves but too few have.”
Previously, charity Crisis welcomed the bill, saying it had the “potential to create a truly world-leading homelessness system”.
The tenants’ union Living Rent also welcomed its publication, saying the bill’s measures would “have a huge impact on tenants’ lives, ensuring that we have homes that we can actually call ours, but we know the landlord lobby will try to water down the bill at every step”.
Scottish Labour did not respond to a request for comment, except to signpost Griffin’s remarks from the committee meeting.
