For immediate release:

TENANT PROTECTION BILL PASSED

Local tenants will have increased protection from rent increases and evictions during the cost of living crisis under temporary legislation introduced by the Scottish Government.

The Cost of Living (Tenant Protection) Bill gives Holyrood Ministers temporary power to cap rents for private and social tenants, as well as for student accommodation. The Bill also introduces a moratorium on evictions.

This cap, which applies to in-tenancy rent increases, has initially been set at 0% from 6 September 2022 until at least 31 March 2023, and the measures can be extended over two further six-month periods.

Enforcement of eviction actions resulting from the cost crisis are prevented over the same period except in a number of specified circumstances, which include criminal or antisocial behaviour.

Rutherglen MSP Clare who voted in favour of the legislation said it will protect tenants in the “harshest of times”.

Commenting, Ms Haughey said:

“People renting their homes are among the hardest hit by the cost of living crisis. Tenants, especially in the private rented sector, spend a greater proportion of their income on housing than people who own their homes.

“The new legislation significantly strengthens the protection against unwarranted rent rises and eviction, it sends a strong signal to landlords about the damages that can be awarded for unlawful eviction, and it provides a bridge into the longer-term rental reforms that are planned.

“The rent freeze and moratorium on evictions demonstrates the Scottish Government’s determination to use all the powers that are available to us to protect the people of Scotland from the harshest of times.”

ENDS