Living Rent urges Edinburgh City Council to Support Rent Controls
On Thursday 26th September 2024, our Edinburgh City Chair Eilidh Keay spoke to Edinburgh City Council's full council asking them to back Rent Controls. The council voted in favour. Edinburgh City Council has become the first council in Scotland to formally support the introduction of Rent Controls. A strong commitment to implementation once the Scottish Government passes Rent Controls into law. If you want get involved in fighting for Rent Controls, join Living Rent and come along to a local meeting: livingrent.org/events
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Living Rent and SNP members launch open letter
Today, Living Rent launched an open letter signed by over 200 SNP members and supporters calling for John Swinney and Paul McLennan to reaffirm their commitment to rent controls. Read it below:
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Living Rent and trade unions send open letter calling for rent controls
Today (Monday 2 September) we sent an open letter alongside Scotland’s trade union leaders, urging First Minister John Swinney, Housing Minister Paul McLennan, and Cabinet Secretary Shirley Ann Sommerville to reaffirm their commitment to introducing rent controls
Read it below:
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Eviction resisted in Shawlands
On Saturday 6th July, over 50 members across our Living Rent Southside branches made their way to Martin & Co’s offices to demand a halt to the proposed eviction of two of our members and their 14 year old child.
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Living Rent and Misneachd write open letter to Deputy First Minister Kate Forbes
Today, Living Rent and Misneachd wrote to deputy First Minister Kate Forbes asking voice her commitment to Scotland-wide rent controls to ensure that rents in the Highlands and Islands are affordable and do not force Gaelic speaking communities out of the places they call home.
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Solidarity with the victims of Grenfell
Today, seven years on, we remember the Grenfell Tower fire, in which at least 72 people lost their lives.
Once again we express our solidarity with the bereaved, survivors and wider community of the Grenfell Tower in their ongoing search for justice.
Their fight is a fight that concerns every single one of us.
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Our response to parliament's consultation on the Housing Bill
Throughout April until 17 May, Scottish Parliament surveyed tenants and landlords on their views on rent controls to scrutinise the bill. The evidence gathered from their survey will support or undermine the legislation. As a result, we organised a petition and asked people to support our response to the consultation.
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Scrap Student Flats, Leith Deserves Better!
Scrap student flats, Leith deserves better!
On the 10th of May, Living Rent Leith hosted a public meeting on the PBSA (Purpose Built Student Accommodation) development at Dalton Scrapyard in Duncan Place Community Hub with councilors, MSPs and local participating. Councilors Susan Rae, Katrina Faccenda, and Jack Caldwell attended as did local MSP Ben Macpherson. During the event we held open discussions regarding the Dalton Scrapyard development, the experiences of students renting in PBSA, the need for social housing and the effects PBSA has on local infrastructure and services.
The townhall public meeting was an important milestone in the campaigning for a better alternative than PBSA on the Dalton site. The event was not only an opportunity to hold politicians accountable, but also to encourage an environment where the local community has a say in its own development. The voice of the people should never be ignored, especially on matters directly affecting them!The event ended with all four elected officials backing our demands which were;
Opposing the development of PBSA on Dalton Scrapyard
A cap on the number of PBSAs built in Leith.
A mandatory contribution to infrastructure from developers relative to the size of the development.
A quota of 35% social housing quota for every development.
The public meeting was well attended, particular with non-members which was especially important as it meant that they had the opportunity to speak up on issues that matter to them. Together, we can put the power back into the hands of our communities and fight for a better Leith!
DOUBLE UNION WIN for members in Leith and Gorgie!
Leith Members Stuart and Rory and Violette and Fatima from Fountainbridge, just WON a total £5300 of rent rebates in negotiation with DJ Alexander!
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Pushed to the edge: Living Rent publishes findings from renters survey
Today we published the results from our renters survey where we asked tenants about their concerns regarding the end of emergency protections (April 2024) as well as their past experiences of eviction, rent increases, disrepair and barriers to renting.
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