Nicola Sturgeon and MSPs lobbied minister over rent cap removal
The former FM was among several SNP politicians who expressed concern over the policy.
Nicola Sturgeon lobbied the Scottish Government against its controversial decision to remove rent control protections for hundreds of thousands of tenants.
Documents obtained by the Sunday Mail show the former First Minister was among five senior party figures who wrote to housing minister Paul McLennan about their concerns months before the cap on bill increases was abolished.
A terrified expectant mother was among members of the public who also contacted McLennan but her appeal fell on deaf ears with the policy being brought in on April 1.
And in a letter to McLennan, Sturgeon said she understood that temporary rent controls could not last forever but said: 'I share the fear of extremely high rent increases taking effect when the protection ends.
'It seems to me that a transitional approach is needed.'
Public finance minister Ivan McKee said the policy was causing constituents 'significant anxiety' and said: 'Extending it would prevent further hardship for tenants already facing rising costs.'
Equalities minister Kaukab Stewart said her constituents were seeing rises 'that far exceed inflation or any justified costs to landlords' and felt the government's renter's rights campaign 'does not adequately protect them'.
Children and young people's minister Natalie Don-Innes and former Equalities minister Emma Roddick also wrote expressing similar concerns in February and March this year.
Last month landlords were able to raise rental prices in line with what they believe is the 'market rate', having faced a cap of 12 per cent previously.
Thousands of tenants have seen their housing costs soar with some fearing homelessness.
The government said tenants can appeal any rises but adjudicators can set even higher increases if they see fit - which could act as a deterrent according to campaigners.
But Green MSP Maggie Chapman said: 'We want to see protections brought back in until robust rent controls come into action through the Housing Bill and I will be proposing such measures in parliament.
'SNP MSPs must also press the Scottish Government to reinstate temporary protections against rip-off rents.'
The Scottish Greens said the level of concern shows a need for protections to be reinstated until the Housing Bill is implemented in 2027, which the government has promised will include rent controls.
We previously revealed McLennan failed to carry out any formal impact assessment of the policy prior to implementation.
One concerned woman told the minister she was facing a rise of £400 a month - to £1000 - for her home and said: 'I can't afford to move as I don't have funds for a deposit and first months rent.
'I can appeal any further increase but I'm not on a fixed term contract, so not coming to any agreement will result in eviction.
'I'm due to go on maternity leave soon so I'm naturally incredibly anxious, my income is going to be significantly lower and I already struggle to make ends meet on a full time nurse salary.
'I'm worried I'm going to end up homeless.'
A low-wage bookseller from Edinburgh told the minister they were 'terrified'.
They wrote: 'My bills are going up, my council tax is due to go up and now this news about rent controls terrifies me.
'I work as a bookseller and am not on a very high salary. When I heard the news I literally felt sick with worry. Edinburgh is in the middle of a declared housing crisis and simply scrapping controls is deeply irresponsible and unacceptable.'
A Scottish Government spokeswoman said: 'Protections continue to be in place against rent increases above market rent for most private tenants and they should make use of their right to a review of a rent increase.
'There is a need for longer term action on rents to ensure a fairer system for tenants – that is why we are taking forward measures in the Housing Bill to support the introduction of longer-term rent control where this is needed.'
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