A controversial Green Party politician has returned to her theme of accusing some landlords of increasing rents unnecessarily.
Maggie Chapman, a Green Member of the Scottish Parliament, has already called for the reintroduction of severe rent controls in Scotland.
In 2022 the Green Party – then part of the Scottish Government – introduced a temporary cap on most in-tenancy rent increases. This was replaced in March 2024 with a so-called adjudication system in place, limiting rent increases.
That expires in just a few days time on April 1 and although a law going through the Scottish Parliament will introduce zones for rent controls, that would come into effect until at least later this year.
The Scottish Greens want action now, Chapman says. She is quoted in the Daily Record as commenting: “With living costs soaring, a lot of renters will be watching their bills stacking up and worrying about the future.
“Meanwhile, there will be rogue landlords all over Scotland eagerly waiting to cash-in from the minute that these protections are lifted.
“Time and again the landlord lobby has shown that it can’t be trusted to look out for the best interest of renters, and I don’t want to see the communities I represent left at the mercy of a broken housing market.
“Unless the Scottish Government acts now, households and families will be plunged into totally avoidable poverty. Do they really want to do that on top of all the cuts that Labour is implementing from Westminster?”
Chapman’s first attack on landlords earned a sharp rebuke from a senior lettings agent – Rob Trotter, director of new business – lettings at respected Scottish agency Rettie. You can see his comments here.
This article is taken from Landlord Today