Greens will protect families in Edinburgh with introduction of rent controls
Lorna Slater, the Scottish Green MSP for Lothian, has urged all parties to back the introduction of rent controls and stronger protections for tenants when parliament votes on the Housing Bill next week.
Scottish Government statistics show that between 2010 and 2024 average rents for a newly-let 2 bedroom flat in Edinburgh reached £1358, an increase of 104%.
This Bill is only happening because of the Scottish Greens, who introduced it to ensure that rent controls and new rights for renters were at the heart of the legislation.
Lorna Slater said: “The introduction of rent controls will be a big step forward for people in Edinburgh, and will finally help to end the imbalance of power between them and their landlords.
“The rental market is broken, and fundamental change is needed. Rents in the capital city have skyrocketed while wages have stagnated. Rogue landlords have been able to get away with ripping off renters for far too long.
“Greens introduced this bill to protect renters. No-one should be forced to shell out so much of their pay on rent, while landlords rack up cash. I am proud of the work that we have done to put renters’ rights at the heart of this legislation.
“All renters and families deserve financial stability, and should not have to worry about losing the roof over their heads. Homes are for living in and not for profiteering. We need to make unaffordable rent hikes become a thing of the past.”
