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The Herald Scotland
2 days ago
- Business
- The Herald Scotland
Landlords must lose the fight over Scotland's rent controls
Last year, the government declared a national housing emergency, recognising record levels of homelessness, the toll high rents are taking on tenants, social housing waiting lists of nearly a quarter of a million across Scotland, and disrepair rampant across our housing stock. Yet as Professor Duncan Maclennan points out, the 'housing emergency' is a misnomer. Read More: This so-called emergency did not happen overnight; it has been created by design through the privatisation of our housing stock and unregulated growth of the private rented sector. Scotland's tenants have faced the hard end of these economic decisions for decades, and bold structural solutions are urgently needed in response. Tenants don't have time to wait. Rent controls, as outlined in the Housing Bill, are an important first step towards ending decades of housing misery. Robust, universal rent controls which have the ability to bring rents down could begin to transform our housing system by making private rented accommodation more affordable and disincentivizing exploitative landlordism overall. It's important to state that forms of rent control seen in recent temporary measures have included too many loopholes for landlords to exploit. Any exemptions to upcoming rent controls would create a multi-tier system, leaving thousands of tenants open to unregulated rents and undermining future policy efforts. The current consultation on rent controls has laid bare the Government's intention to appease landlords by introducing significant exemptions to rent controls. Ruth Gilbert, national campaign chair of Living Rent (Image: Newsquest) At this last hurdle rent controls are under threat. Since the government first committed to rent controls, the landlord and developer lobbies have eroded support for proper regulation of the private rented sector among politicians. The constant barrage of criticism - combined with empty threats of a mass exodus of landlords - have pushed a pliant government into conceding to appease the market at the expense of tenants. The most egregious exemption proposals concern 'build to rent' developments. The government has proposed a suite of amendments designed to encourage these sorts of developments, but this dangerous trend towards large-scale private developments is not something they should sensibly support. Build to rent properties are expensive, and beyond the reach of most tenants. Anyone who has walked through either Glasgow or Edinburgh recently will have seen these buildings springing up alongside billboards that promise convenient locations, fun perks, and luxury accommodation. Worryingly, this is just the start of the build to rent boom, over 3,800 units have been built, and there are 12,767 still in the pipeline. This explosion of the sector should highlight that it does not need any further government incentives. Indeed, across the UK the industry received over £1bn in investment from North America in the last quarter of 2024 alone. Developers' push for exemptions only highlights the business model they are touting. The bill, as introduced, already allows for above inflation rent increases, and so lobbyists' greedy demands for more exposes a model that is more concerned with creating dividends for overseas investors than delivering on the needs of Scotland's people. The government is deeply misguided if it thinks that expensive, luxury accommodation is going to fix our housing emergency. These are development sites which can and should be used for much-needed and genuinely affordable housing for social rent. Also proposed for exemption are mid-market properties. Mid-market tenants are some of the most vulnerable in our housing system. Apparently designated for tenants with low to middle incomes, mid-market properties exist to ensure that those unable to afford rents in the private sector and who cannot access social housing are able to better afford their housing costs. By threatening to exclude mid-market tenants from rent controls, this will see mid-market landlords able to increase rent however high they like with tenants left with no recourse to challenge it. For example, this summer at Water Row mid-market development in Govan, tenants were hit with a 10.6% rent increase after being given a rent increase of 39% before they had even moved in. The rent increase was delivered despite a previous commitment to keep rent below the local housing allowance. However, tenants had no legal recourse to challenge. It was only through Living Rent members organising together and fighting back did the landlord eventually concede and cancel the rent increase. This government needs to stop listening to the empty threats of landlords and legislate to protect those who have been most impacted by decades of mismanaged housing policy. Scotland's tenants need universal and comprehensive rent controls that bring rents down. Anything short of this will ruin the housing bill, undermine the possibility of a more just housing system for years to come, and damage the wavering trust that Scotland's tenants have that politicians will take the urgent action needed to end the national housing emergency. Ruth Gilbert is the national campaign chair of Living Rent
The National
24-06-2025
- Politics
- The National
Banning a protest group as authoritarian as it gets
It has been a defining catchphrase of his leadership: denigrating protest movements and using it to criticise any form of solidarity or direct action from Labour members and elected representatives – up to and including banning his Cabinet members from joining striking workers on picket lines. It's all part of this right-wing Labour Government's attempts to erode the basic democratic right to protest, whether through its refusal to repeal authoritarian anti-protest and anti-trade union laws brought in by the Conservatives, or their use of these laws – and even anti-terrorism laws – to silence and restrict pro-Palestine voices who are speaking out against our government's complicity in Israel's genocide in Gaza. The latest escalation came yesterday when the Home Secretary set out plans to ban Palestine Action as a proscribed terrorist organisation, after its protests attempting to disrupt the supply chain of the military-industrial complex complicit in genocide. READ MORE: Iran announces it has attacked US forces stationed at air base in Qatar For the Government to use anti-terrorism laws to ban any peaceful protest group which makes life inconvenient for them is as authoritarian as it gets and should scare us all. It may not be a cause you agree with being banned today, but who knows what they'll ban tomorrow? And for this to come from a Labour Government is simply extraordinary. Labour's detestation of protest isn't just morally wrong, it's also deeply foolish. The framing of protest vs power is a false dichotomy – the most radical societal improvements came about due to protest movements. The women's suffrage movement used both peaceful and violent protest methods to fight for their right to vote. Basic employment rights, from the five-day working week to the creation of the minimum wage, came after years of co-ordinated campaigning by the trade union movement. Even the NHS didn't just pop into the government's head without prompting. A number of campaigning organisations including the Socialist Medical Association and the National Union of Students campaigned for a national health service long before it was founded by Aneurin Bevan. (Image: File) It is only because in each of these cases the governments of the day had no choice but to listen to the voices of the people they were elected to represent that we now have rights, freedoms and public services we today take for granted. More recently, we have seen the impact protest movements can have by working alongside political parties to deliver genuine improvement here in Scotland. The Housing Bill making its way through Holyrood contains measures for the implementation of rent controls in the private rented sector, and though the bill is imperfect, we wouldn't even be discussing rent controls let alone being close to implementing them were it not for the tireless efforts of tenants' union Living Rent. It's also true that the bill in its current form wouldn't exist were it not for the Scottish Greens, who were able to amplify the voices of renters across the country by taking the demands of Living Rent and including rent controls as part of the Bute House Agreement. Similarly, free bus travel for under-22s was an issue campaigned for by a number of organisations including student groups and the Scottish Youth Parliament, while the recent commitment for free bus travel for asylum seekers came about after campaigns by the Maryhill Integration Network, the Scottish Refugee Council and others. Both of these campaigns were amplified by the Scottish Greens and won as a result of both on-the-ground protest and campaigns, and political negotiations by elected politicians. Simply put, all of these transformational policies came about because the Greens recognised the need to be both a party of protest and a party of power – whether that is power within government or the power that comes from constructive opposition. Greens uplifted the voices of campaigners and protesters – in many cases with Greens among the ranks of protesters themselves – and helped win genuine, tangible change as a result. In some of these cases, such as free bus travel, the adoption of the policy by the Greens came about as a result of grassroots campaigns by internal groups like the Scottish Young Greens. All of this is to say that any politician – Starmer or anyone else – who denigrates or minimises the role that protest has to play in our politics, either doesn't understand where power lies in a democracy, or they do and they are scared of it. It's no wonder governments in Westminster have sought to attack and minimise the ability to protest – they know it works. The UK Government continues to be complicit in Israel's genocide in Gaza despite it being both morally reprehensible and deeply unpopular among the general public. A YouGov poll last week found that a majority of the UK public opposes Israel's actions in Gaza, with just 15% supporting them. And 65% want the UK to implement the International Criminal Court's arrest warrant for Benjamin Netanyahu should he visit the UK. It makes sense then, for a deeply unpopular Labour Government elected on just 33.7% of the vote to aim to criminalise direct action against its complicity in this genocide by proscribing Palestine Action and cracking down on other forms of protest. They know that if the people of the UK were free to voice what we really think, and act in the moral interest, the Government simply wouldn't stand a chance. Protest is, and always will be, a vital part of our democracy, no matter how much Labour and the Tories try to erode it. It reminds politicians that power in this country belongs to the people – we merely lend it to them at the ballot box. It's the reason for so many of the vital rights we hold today and it'll be the reason for more in the future, not least Scotland's independence. Politicians of all colours would do well to remember this.
The Herald Scotland
23-06-2025
- Health
- The Herald Scotland
Mairi McAllan must end 'political choice of homelessness'
More than 16,000 households live in temporary accommodation, including 10,000 children, with another 5,000 children thought to be homeless. Gordon MacRae, assistant director of Shelter Scotland, accused Scottish ministers of 'maintaining' homelessness by managing the decline in the housing sector. He said the Housing Bill, currently being considered in Holyrood, fails to 'stop anyone becoming homeless'. In a scathing assessment, he said: "We have nothing on the table right now that will reduce the probability of homelessness occurring over the next 12 months. "This is a political choice. We have a programme for managing homelessness and managing decline in the housing sector." He added: 'The seriousness and the energy and relentlessness to drive change, I'm afraid it's not there. 'I don't think it's an unfair challenge to say that the Scottish Government's comfort zone is managing the problem not ending the problem and that is what we hope for with Mairi McAllan.' Read more: He said Ms McAllan must reduce homelessness and increase the number of council and social homes by the end of the parliamentary year. 'This is the opportunity that is available to her but it requires political choice to do things differently and up until now ll of the working groups, all of the meetings – and there has been many of them since the declaration – have really focused on doing better with what we have. 'We need to accept that there is not enough homes, there's not enough good quality services to stop the continued growth in homelessness. 'We also need to accept that if homelessness increases, then the harm increases. More people will die, more people will be on the streets, more children's life opportunities will be reduced because of the experience of homelessness.' Last month, it was revealed that every council except Edinburgh will receive less money for social housing this year compared to four years ago. Scotland declared an official housing emergency in May 2024, following in the footsteps of a dozen councils, including Glasgow and Edinburgh. Ms McAllan's predecessor Paul McLennan informed the First Minister he did not wish to continue in government following a brief period of ill health. Since taking office, Ms McAllan said she will "advocate for the greatest possible funding" for her new portfolio. In response, Ms McAllan said: 'Having a safe, warm and affordable place to call home is critical to a life of dignity and opportunity. Therefore providing this and tackling the housing emergency head on will be my top priority. "It will be essential in ensuring everyone in Scotland, and in particular our children, have the opportunity to thrive and I am focussed on delivering that real change. 'A major key to tackling the housing emergency is delivering affordable homes - and fast. We have a good track record in this, but we must now step up our efforts. "To that end, we will invest £768 million this financial year in the affordable housing programme, including £40m targeted towards acquisitions to support the local authorities to tackle the most sustained homelessness and temporary accommodation pressures. 'I am also focussed on preventing homelessness in the first place. Local authorities will be provided with £15 billion this financial year for a range of services, including in homelessness services. "There is also an additional £4 million invested in the Ending Homelessness Together budget for 2025-26 to help local authorities, frontline services and relevant partners prepare for the new measures in the Housing Bill - measures which will help to prevent homelessness before it occurs. 'I am squarely focussed on the task in hand, am open minded about how to approach matters and look forward to working with Shelter Scotland and others in this vital task.' Ms McAllan faced criticism last week after she was unable to say how many people in Scotland were on a social housing waiting list. She told STV News: 'It's not that I don't know it, I don't have the figure with me today.'
Glasgow Times
20-06-2025
- Politics
- Glasgow Times
Pledge to stop women fleeing violence becoming homeless
More than one in four homeless applications from women are from those suffering domestic abuse. James Dornan, SNP MSP for Cathcart, called for action to ensure women are not left homeless if they are forced to flee domestic abuse. READ NEXT: Thousands expected for march and rally to support refugees in Glasgow He asked Mhairi McAllan, the Housing Secretary, to ensure safe options are available for women. He said: 'Given that domestic abuse is the leading recorded cause of women presenting as homeless in Scotland, accounting for around 23% of female-headed homelessness applications in 2023/24, what further specific steps are being taken to ensure safe, stable and immediate housing options are available to survivors?' The Housing Secretary said steps were being taken under the Housing Act to strengthen the safeguards for women to help women remain in their home. She said: 'Under the Housing Bill, we will introduce a duty on all social landlords to develop and introduce a domestic abuse policy. 'This should set out how they report their tenants experiencing abuse and it includes keeping the tenant in their home and removing the perpetrator if that is what they want.' READ NEXT: Tenant-led campaign to halt rent hike praised by MP 'We will also update the definition of domestic abuse, as it applies in housing, to take account of an increased understanding of what actually constitutes domestic abuse and the bill also introduces a duty on social landlords to fully consider domestic abuse and support individuals experiencing it if its causing any financial arrears before any legal action to recover possession of a property on account of rent arrears can be taken forward.' McAllan said the Bill would improve the rights of women in a domestic abuse situation. She added: 'The measures in this act mark a critical shift in preventing women's homelessness in the first place by giving social landlords greater control to transfer tenancies to a victim survivor. 'I place great priority on protecting the housing rights of women and children and those suffering domestic abuse, so I'm always open to new ways that we can do that.'
The National
12-06-2025
- Politics
- The National
Mairi McAllan: I'm back and I want quick progress on housing emergency
Returning to work after almost a year of maternity leave, the SNP MSP for Clydesdale was immediately summoned to Bute House by the First Minister and appointed Housing Secretary. 'Mairi McAllan has been tasked with tackling the housing emergency,' John Swinney said afterwards. 'Including ensuring we have energy efficient homes to help bring down bills and tackle the climate emergency. These are two of the biggest challenges facing people across the country.' READ MORE: UK Government announces £200m funding for Scottish Acorn carbon capture project And as the party is looking to reset after a tough by-election loss in Hamilton, Larkhall and Stonehouse and with the 2026 Holyrood election on the horizon, the 32-year-old has also been appointed to the unofficial role of lead minister for media interviews. It's further confirmation of how highly the SNP thinks of McAllan – who has often been tipped to be a future party leader. When The National spoke with McAllan on Wednesday afternoon in her office in Holyrood in her first interview since returning to government, she didn't confirm nor deny whether she harboured such ambitions. 'I have worked closely with leaders of our party and leaders of our government. I have seen up close how grueling and demanding the job is, and it's not something that should ever be taken on lightly,' she said. 'And I do not spend my days thinking about becoming leader of the SNP. However, the SNP means the world to me, [the] pursuit of Scottish independence means the world to me. So, right now, my job is to support the man that I back 100% to be leader, but it's flattering to have those things said nonetheless.' In any case, tackling the housing emergency will certainly be no mean feat for McAllan – with the potential to make or break any future leadership bid. When it was declared by the Scottish Government in May last year, homelessness was already at a record high with house building slowing down. Sat in front of a stack of papers and notes just hours after she was announced as Housing Secretary, McAllan said she is a minister who 'really likes to get into the details of things'. 'Particularly before I pontificate about what needs to be done,' she added. 'But it strikes me that there's funding and planning issues to be looked at, and then there's legal issues to be considered as well. And, obviously, there's a Bill that's quite well through just now which I'll be assessing very closely.' The Housing Bill is currently at Stage 2, with MSPs set to debate amendments in the coming months. It includes plans to cap rent rises at a maximum of 6% for tenants living in rent control areas. But Scotland's housing woes and homelessness crisis will need much more than that. Since the emergency was declared, figures have suggested it has only gone further downhill. READ MORE: SNP minister responds to 'secret meeting to discuss John Swinney leadership' reports Data released earlier this year showed there were a mammoth 17,424 households in Scotland assessed as being either homeless or threatened with homelessness in the six-month period from April 1 to September 30, 2024. Housebuilding in Scotland has also plummeted, with nearly 4000 fewer homes in supply in 2023-24, compared to the year before. McAllan said she "will not accept things not improving". "I think it is a bit like turning a tank around sometimes though, but I want to see quick progress," she added. McAllan also said the housing brief becoming a Cabinet position for the first showed the 'importance' the Scottish Government is placing on the issue. 'It has been an issue that the SNP have prioritised since we came into government and that's backed by statistics,' she claimed. 'We know that, per 10,000 head of population, affordable housing supply is 47% higher in Scotland than it is in England since we came into government, but clearly there is lots to be done.' The Scottish Government previously pledged to build 110,000 affordable homes by 2032, but some, including Labour, have said they are not on track to meet that target. For the last three years between 9500 and 10,400 new affordable homes were completed per year, with the most recent Scottish Budget statement pledging funding that would apparently enable a further 8000. (Image: free) 'I want to discuss with my officials where exactly we are on that,' McAllan said. 'But it's my priority that it continues to happen and we continue to build and deliver new properties.' She added: 'But I'm not going to wait for that slightly longer term piece of work to be done because there are disused properties that can be brought back into use much more quickly and with less money whilst we build and deliver them. 'So, there's no one answer. But I want to understand the full spectrum of options and make sure that each of them is working as fast as they can. McAllan, when pressed on some of the homelessness figures – specifically surrounding the number of children living in temporary accommodation – admitted that it was 'unacceptable'. Scottish Government data revealed that as of September 30 last year, there are a record 10,360 children living in temporary accommodation. 'It's completely unacceptable. In my view, and I'm sure this is one shared by the First Minister, a home and a roof over someone's head that they can be comfortable in is a fundamental aspect of both a dignified life and a successful life,' she said. 'The First Minister making this a Cabinet post is because he understands how connected it is with his principal goal of eradicating child poverty, but stimulating our economy at the same time and tackling the climate emergency.' McAllan added: 'So, I can't wait actually to get started, to get to know all of the actors in the industry, to understand what's been working to date, because I will defend the Scottish Government's record, but we now need to ramp up our actions rapidly in order to be commensurate with the scale of the challenge.' Angela Eagle – the UK Government's immigration minister – had been invited to a meeting in April with representatives from Glasgow City Council, the Scottish Government, and the Scottish Refugee Council. It comes amid concerns that the amount of refugees declaring as homeless is putting 'unprecedented pressure' on the local authority. But it went ahead without her after the minister's visit was cancelled last minute, with repeated calls from the SNP-led Glasgow Council for a follow-up meeting then ignored according to the city's homelessness lead Allan Casey. Asked about this, McAllan said the UK Government are 'far from where they need to be' on the issue. And asked whether she will be writing to the UK Government to call for a meeting, she responded: 'Absolutely'. 'For the whole of Scotland, I want to have a good working relationship with the UK ministers that are responsible. I haven't spoken to them yet because I was only appointed a few hours ago, but that will be something that I'll be looking to do.' She added: 'The UK Government, Scottish Government and local government need to be tied in very closely in order to make this work.'
