Tenants in Scotland have launched a national ‘union’ based on a Scandinavian model, where tenants have far greater powers than anywhere in the UK.
It is believed to be the first such organisation in the UK, going further than Generation Rent and with a different model from Shelter.
Living Rent will provide support for those living in both the Scottish private rented and social sectors, and be a campaigning voice. It will also use its subscription money for a hardship fund.
The new organisation is intended to act as a counter-balance to landlord and letting agent bodies in political lobbying, and is based on a model in Sweden.
In Sweden, where there are rent controls, tenants who can both object to rent rises and are allowed to sub-let to bring in as much money as they themselves pay in rent, actively help shape legislation.
Living Rent has grown out of the Living Rent Campaign, where tenants across Scotland campaigned for rent controls and security of tenure.
Liz Ely, acting chair of Living Rent, said: “Right now, too many landlords can get away with charging rip-off rents for poor quality housing, and tenants are paying the price. The private rented sector is regulated like it’s just another business venture, but the reality is that hundreds and thousands of Scots rely on private landlords to keep a roof over their heads.
“We need real rent controls, proper regulations and representation for tenants.
“Over the past two years, we’ve heard countless stories of tenants struggling with sky-high rents, unsafe housing conditions, and illegal evictions. It doesn’t have to be this way – in many European countries, large and active tenants’ unions provide support to their members and negotiate housing policy at the local and national level.
“Housing isn’t a luxury good but a basic necessity – without strong safeguards and balanced policy-making, tenants will continue to struggle in a housing market that puts the interests of private profit first.
“Living Rent will work to make sure that every tenant in Scotland has a safe, affordable and secure home to go to.”
The answer is in their own hands. Go and buy your home. If landlords withdraw from the market there will be no property to rent, no mobility of work. Oh no I forgot they want something for nothing. Incidentally I do not support poor quality landlords who are the drivers for all these extreme lobby groups.
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That’s an unnecessary reply given the hardship many, many folks in the country find in meeting mortgage requirements.
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People always complain but very rarely give praise when service is good . Unfortunately thats the problem with generation rent shelter etc… they only hear the bad cases. For every bad case there is probably 100,000 good.
These bad cases pay their wages its in their interests to make it look as bad as they possibly can or they will not be needed.
Its self survival at the expensive of the millions of decent good landlords
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Couldn’t agree with you more.
And here is another fee for tenants to pay. Weird that this scheme requires a fee from tenants, just as Letting Agents, who do actually take care of tenants’ needs, require a fee to meet overheads.
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