The youngest elected MP for 350 years has thrown her weight behind growing calls for rent controls in Scotland.
The SNP’s Mhairi Black, 20, who ousted Labour’s shadow foreign secretary Douglas Alexander in the Paisley and Renfrewshire South seat at May’s general election, said the time had now come for the controls to be introduced.
She said: “Rising rent prices are putting huge pressure on people.
“Inflated rent prices prevent students getting suitable accommodation and it is time for a change.”
Alasdair Clark, from the Living Rent Campaign, told EYE: “We’re thrilled to add Mhairi Black’s support to a long list of politicians, trade unions and civic organisations who have pledged their support for rent controls.
“Rising house prices and a lack of social housing means more and more people are being forced into one of the least regulated private rented sectors in Europe.
“Rents are rising at unaffordable levels across Scotland, forcing some tenants to choose between paying their rent and eating.
“It’s clear that there is no solution to Scotland’s housing crisis that doesn’t involve rent controls.
“Looking to countries like Germany and the Netherlands, which have well regulated and thriving private rental sectors, rent controls work across Europe, and are the right option for Scotland too.”
The Scottish Government is proposing the introduction of rent controls in certain areas as part of a new Housing Bill.
Forgive me for pointing out the obvious but a basic understanding of economics determines that rents aren’t unaffordable to everyone. Rent controls only actually benefit those who can already afford the higher rents; rent controls don’t reduced demand but invariably reduce supply.
The only way to solve the crisis in the crossover between private and social rental system is to have a long term apolitical system that understands the problems of housing rather than the benefits to a political career.
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……..errrr, “forcing some tenants to choose between paying their rent and eating”.
Doesn’t Scotland that so recently sought independence have its own safety net otherwise known as social housing ? This kind of emotive nonsense from the likes of Living Rent has no place in the property sector. No-one has an absolute ‘right’ to have a roof over their head. Agree totally with Robert May’s first para.
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Agree with Robert May. This is another example of the SNP “making noise” at Westminster, but without substance. Also, this is another example of the SNP spin machine that has a Westminster MP talking about Scotland…and obviously Nicola Sturgeon a MS(Scottish)P talking about UK issues.
How does Rent Controls work Mhairi? Given she comes from a constituency that has 2 bed student flats very near the local university at £350-£450pcm, yet a student flat in Edinburgh or St Andrews may cost you C£700pcm. Aberdeen is much more expensive – lecturers are even having to share HMO flats with students. Supply and demand Mhairhi! …and if you want Social Housing as a parachute for the electorate that voted for you, please get your local (Renfrewshire) council investing in social housing. But as there is little financial support from the Scottish Government for these types of initiatives because they cannot balance the books (one way or another…there was a surplus last year!), the PRS will continue to grow – because there is a need.
Too many soundbites from Mhairhi, the SNP, Generation Rent, Shelter etc.
Too many activists/bloggers/campaigners lining their pockets on the back of unsustainable initiatives. e.g. Campbell Robb, CEO of Shelter £120,000 pa. Director of Housing at Renfrewshire Council – £109,000. All with expenses….and Generation Rent Policy Feature stating “…with a monthly maximum rent amounting to half of the annual council tax band for a home” Mhairi, that makes a typical flat mentioned above in your constituency <£13,000 pcm. and even in uber expensive Westminster <£20,000 pcm. I think they mean half of the Annual Council Tax CHARGE for a home. A brief check shows that Westminster charges half of what Renfrewshire charges. Edinburgh charges the same…yet Edinburgh has 3-4 Universities and numerous Colleges. Supply and Demand prevails. Where is the logic in what you (and other acolytes) are saying Mhairi?
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A 20 year old talking about housing policy.
Says it all really!
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Why shouldn’t she comment? Have some respect. She’s an elected MP. What were you doing when you were 20?
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I hope the SNP have loads of social housing ready to allow for the withdrawal from the market of a number of landlords. As they say with age comes wisdom.
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