Rennie to push amendments to housing bill

On Tuesday, Scottish Liberal Democrat MSP Willie Rennie will begin to put forward a series of amendments to the Scottish Government’s housing bill to tackle fears that it will discourage properties from being put forward for rent and discourage house building.

Mr Rennie’s amendments include proposals to:

• exempt mid-market-rent and build-to-rent properties from the proposed rent control regime including registered social landlords, exempt properties which are let at below half the rate of open-market rent and exclude build-to-rent properties from harmful measures.

• prevent rent control measures from applying between tenancies where work has been done to improve the property.

• require Scottish Ministers to publish and review a private rented sector strategy.

Commenting ahead of moving the amendments, Mr Rennie said:

“Scotland needs more properties of every kind if we are to bring down housing costs. The amendments I am putting forward aim to build confidence and increase investment in new housing.

“The Scottish Government with the influence of the Greens has damaged investment and resulted in fewer homes being built in the middle of a housing emergency.

“Their damaging rhetoric about landlords and investors has reduced the number of properties available to renters and discouraged landlords from doing upkeep work. Unsurprisingly less supply means that prices go up.

“Seeing these problems and doubling down, like the Green party are proposing, is the economic equivalent of being a flat earther. It’s time for a sensible approach which brings down housing costs.”