On 1 April the 12% rent cap lifted, leaving tenants faced with landlords hiking up rents through the roof and forcing people out of their homes.
This government has completely forgotten tenants. It is completely irresponsible to end the measures that have protected tenants from sky high rent increases when rents are already pushing people into poverty.
Without this cap, tenants are going to be hit hard by a wave of ‘open market’ rent increases as landlords cash in after two years of emergency protections. Open-market rent is completely unaffordable. It is ludicrous that this government thinks that the open market is a fair metric for tenants.
1. If you have had a rent increase - challenge it using our form.
Though we have limited protections, it is crucial that we challenge our rent increases to ensure that landlords are not able to increase rent above market rate. You have 21 days to contest your rent hike, after which your landlords increase will take effect.
2. Join Living Rent
As more and more people get rent increases, we need to come together to fight back. We need a system of rent controls and stronger protections for tenants to keep rents affordable, improve quality and make our housing more secure. The Scottish Government has announced their plans for a Housing Bill but we know that landlords will stop at nothing to water it down and delay it. Our members throughout Scotland will be fighting for this, join Living Rent to support the fight and then come along to your next branch meeting to get involved!
3. Come along to a member defence meeting.
If you want to fight back against your rent increase or eviction or support your neighbours and stop spiralling rents, come along to a member defence meeting where other members will be fighting to protect their neighbours. You need to join before you are able to attend a session.
4. Use this form to write to your MSP and share your story.
We want to make sure that our stories are being heard. If you have a received an eviction notice or rent hike, write to your MSP to ask them what they are planning on doing about the Housing Crisis and ask them to support tenants rights in the Housing Bill.
When politicians refuse to protect us, we, as Scotland's tenants' union, will be supporting members and tenants across Scotland to fight back.
