A spike in private sector tenants who apply for homelessness has shamed the SNP and the Tories, local MSP Jackie Baillie has said. 

The study, conducted by Shelter Scotland showed almost one fifth of all homeless applications made in 2013-14 came from people who had been living in privately rented accommodation -; a rise of 38% in the last five years.  

Scottish Labour will reform the private rented sector with a cap on rent rises to stop tenants being ripped off by landlords, as well as more secure tenancies. However in 2014 the SNP voted with the Tories to block these plans.

This is despite the Scottish Government’s own Expert Working Group on Welfare recommending a rent cap to rise in line with inflation.

There are 2000 households in West Dunbartonshire and 5000 households in Argyll and Bute in the private rented sector who would benefit from the introduction of a rent cap. Nearly half of these households are families, and over 100,000 households across Scotland in the sector live in poverty.

Jackie said: 

 “This alarming increase in homeless applications from the private rented sector shows the need to reform the market to make it work for tenants. 

 “For many of the 7000 families in West Dunbartonshire and Argyll and Bute who live in privately rented homes, the last thing you need is a rogue landlord ripping you off with an unfair rent hike. 

 “That is why Scottish Labour want to ban rip off rent rises, but when we proposed this in Holyrood the SNP joined forces with the Tories to block the policy. It is time for the SNP to answer who they stand with on rent reform -; the Tories and rogue landlords, or hard pressed families suffering from the cost of living crisis