On 12 May, Dundee’s City Square was buzzing as Living Rent Dundee rolled out our ‘Unfair Funfair’ outside Dundee City Council, calling loud and clear for rent controls.
With the Housing (Scotland) Bill moving through Stage 2 in Parliament, Living Rent members showed up in force, inviting councillors and passers-by to try their hand at games that put the spotlight on Dundee’s housing crisis. The message? The odds are stacked against renters, and it’s time for the council to step in.
Let’s be honest: rents in Dundee are out of control. In just the last year, the average rent for a one-bedroom flat jumped 10%, after a whopping 16.9% rise the year before. Since 2010, rents have soared by 75.2%-that’s over 25% more than inflation. It’s no wonder Dundee now has the fastest-rising rents in Scotland, and tenants are feeling the squeeze harder than ever.
The Housing (Scotland) Bill, introduced in March, would let councils implement Rent Control Areas and clamp down on how often and how much landlords can hike rents-both during and between tenancies. With a public consultation now open, the time for action is right now.[3]
Living Rent stands with tenants and communities fighting for fair rents, safe homes, and the right to stay in the places they love. The union’s message to Dundee City Council is simple: don’t just talk about the housing crisis - do something about it.
[1] https://www.dundeecity.gov.uk/sites/default/files/publications/24_june_lcpar_24_report.pdf
https://www.dundeecity.gov.uk/sites/default/files/publications/housing_need_demand_assessment_final_report_nov_2022.pdf
https://www.dundeecity.gov.uk/sites/default/files/261-2022_-_review_of_rents_other_housing_charges_202324_10.10.2022.pdf
[2] https://www.livingrent.org/dundee_open_letter_rentcontrols
[3] https://www.parliament.scot/bills-and-laws/bills/s6/housing-scotland-bill-session-6
