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TODAY'S OTHER NEWS

Landlords and tenants to be consulted over Scottish rent restrictions proposal

Landlords and tenants across Scotland will be consulted over plans to impose rent restrictions north of the border.

Scottish Labour wants to introduce new legislation linking rents to average wages, with tenants given the power to challenge unfair charges.

Scottish Labour leader Richard Leonard has made no secret of his desire to control rents and limit the power of private landlords in Scotland, despite concerns that it could have an adverse impact on tenants.

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In his keynote speech to Scottish Labour’s spring conference earlier this year, he detailed his vision to reshape the rental sector in Scotland, including the introduction of a new “Mary Barbour law” to protect tenants.

The proposed ‘Mary Barbour law’ is named after the Red Clydeside political activist who played a leading role in the rent strikes of 1915.

Now Leonard has reiterated his intention to reform the rental market in Scotland.

He said: “Too many young families are caught in a vicious cycle – a lack of affordable public housing forces people to rent privately and as a result many are paying rip-off rents which stops them saving for a deposit to buy their own home.

“Our proposals for a Mary Barbour law will seek to regulate the private rented sector to ensure that no one is forced to rent a home that pushes them into poverty or falls below the standards needed to protect their physical and mental health and well-being.

“A home is a basic fundamental human right. The Scottish Parliament must endure that that everyone can exercise this right to live in security, peace, and dignity.

“While the SNP tinkers around the edges, Labour will deliver real change. The first step towards that is this a major discussion paper to guide our reforms.”

Want to comment on this story? If so...if any post is considered to victimise, harass, degrade or intimidate an individual or group of individuals on any basis, then the post may be deleted and the individual immediately banned from posting in future.

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    a home is not a human right no more than a car is, rent controls would need to be seen as fair to all concerned, this government doesn't like us, a labour government would hate us.

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    OMG you are right there.
    John McDonnell would have a 'field day' with us?

     
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    Andrew... Totally agree

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    So what happened to the ability to ask what you want for something that belongs to you. That you work and pay for?
    If I try to sell my car for £10.000 more than its worth nobody will buy it. If you advertise a property way above the market it wont let. It is a market and the ability to ask what you want and what you think is fair should be the right of the owner not the state.

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    politicians never learn--rent controls stop properties being rented

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