Tenants Standing up for their Rights in the Private Rented Sector

The motion

That the Parliament welcomes the foundation of Edinburgh Private Tenants Action Group (EPTAG), which has been set up to campaign to ensure that action is taken against rogue landlords in the city; understands that there has been tremendous growth in the private rented sector in Scotland and that the Annual Population Survey 2010 indicated that 11% of people in Scotland are in the private rented sector; notes that this figure rises to 39% in Edinburgh Central and 43% in the centre of Glasgow; expresses its concern regarding what it considers to be the high demand for housing and limited supply in city centres and believes that this is creating a market that is not competitive; considers that, although only a minority of landlords are rogue landlords, they can have a serious impact on the lives of tenants; understands that collective representation has already been successful in ensuring progress on the enforcement of legal rights in employment and other fields; welcomes the additional legal rights established by the Parliament, including in-tenancy deposit protection and the Private Rented Housing (Scotland) Act 2011; believes that seeking to protect responsible tenants from rogue landlords does not conflict with also seeking to protect law-abiding landlords from irresponsible tenants; is open-minded to evidence for further changes to improve protection for tenants and landlords, should this be shown to be necessary and practical, and looks forward to EPTAG engaging with individuals and authorities across Edinburgh in order to provide grassroots support, guidance and a campaigning voice for private tenants.

No recorded vote on this motion. Most motions are never debated, and many that are debated are agreed without a division. Vote records are published from 2011.

SNP 21 Lab 3 Green 1

Party shown is each supporter’s party when the motion was published.

No contribution in the Official Report cites S4M-02291 by reference.