THE SNP Government is facing pressure not to “water down” rent controls in its Housing Bill after it put heavy focus on provisions which would increase flexibility for tenants to keep pets.
In a release issued for Thursday morning, the Scottish Government led on the fact that its new legislation would “allow a renter to make a request to keep a pet in their home and for that to not be unreasonably refused by their landlord”.
Housing Minister Paul McLennan said: “Pets are an important part of the family for many people across Scotland.
“Tenants have the right to feel at home in rented accommodation and having more control over keeping a pet can play a big part in that and can have additional benefits for their mental health and wellbeing.”
“The Bill also meets the Scottish Government’s ambition to improve the renting experience in Scotland, whilst also encouraging landlords to invest.
“We will continue to work to create a system that strengthens renters’ rights and supports continued investment in the rental market.”
The SNP Government also included a quote from the SSPCA in its press release, which welcomed the “safeguarding of the rights of tenants to keep pets” after a survey found that “37% of tenants stated that they have had to make that unimaginable choice between having a pet and having a roof over their head”.
The focus on pets has led to some concern that the Scottish Government may be planning to weaken its plans for rent controls.
According to Future Economy Scotland, rents in Edinburgh and Glasgow have increased by more than 75% since 2010, far out-pacing inflation.
Green MSP Maggie Chapman said many people were “concerned that this bill could be watered down, which has been underlined by the Scottish Government’s proposed amendments that would lock-in above inflation rent hikes, even in rent control areas”.
Aditi Jehangir, the chair of the tenants’ union Living Rent told The National that pets were an important part of rental legislation – but extra provisions like it would be “meaningless” without strong rent controls.
Chapman said: “The Scottish Government must put strong tenants’ rights ahead of the vested interests of the landlord lobby and make sure this bill supports households and families through the housing emergency that so many are being forced to endure.
“With the bill about to come before Parliament for the first time, our focus will be on how we can best protect tenants and ensure rights to secure tenancies, habitable properties and affordable rents.”
And Living Rent chair Jehangir said: “Pets are a huge part of our lives, many are like families. It is vital that the assumption is that tenants are able to keep pets without fear of being evicted. These provisions, and the provisions to decorate the flat are crucial in giving us the freedom to live how we want.
“The fear that many tenants have of being made homeless due to their pets is forcing many to give up their pets or lie to landlords. However, without strong, permanent rent controls that bring rents down, tenants will not be able to afford to keep their pets and these extra provisions will be meaningless.
MSPs need to make sure that any amendments put forward prioritise the need for tenants to live in a safe, secure, affordable home, not landlord’s desire to make huge profits at the expense of the rest of us.”
