The Fair Rents (Scotland) Bill: call for evidence

The Scottish Parliament’s Local Government and Communities Committee wants your views on The Fair Rents (Scotland) Bill. This new Bill aims to limit rent increases for those in private rented housing. The deadline is 7 December 2020.

The Fair Rents (Scotland) Bill is a Member’s Bill introduced by Pauline McNeill MSP on 1 June 2020. The Bill has cross party support and Govan Law Centre drafted and is campaigning for this bill to become law.

The Bill aims to increase private tenants’ protection by limiting rent increases and to make private landlords enter the rents they charge in a public register to improve data on rent levels.

The fact that the bill is being considered is a victory for Govan Law Centre and the Living Rent Campaign. In June 2020 the Committee met in private to throw out this bill on the grounds there was no time to consider it. Govan Law Centre started court proceeding and has appealed to the Inner House of the Court of Session (one of the highest courts in Scotland) on the grounds they should not have met in private to decide this bill should not be considered further.

The Scottish Parliament’s Local Government and Communities Committee has changed its mind and has decided it now does have time to consider this bill. We welcome this change of mind. It looks like the committee agree that they got this wrong and the committee should not have met in private to decide that this bill should not be considered further.

If you live in private rented accommodation, or are part of a community group or interested organisation we would urge to give evidence to the committee. We need the Scottish Parliament to have as much information as possible so they can give this bill full consideration. We clearly have a fight to even get this bill to be considered.

Submit your evidence here: https://yourviews.parliament.scot/lgc/fair-rents-bill/?fbclid=IwAR3vOwZagKwiBPNH69lhqYTBomHK-DLKPMVhrD7TJohnSKTxi8sIh4O6Ads

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