Constituency MSP, Jackie Baillie, has highlighted Scottish Labour’s commitment to progress plans to introduce rent controls in Scotland. The announcement which set out plans for a Mary Barbour Bill was made by Scottish Labour Leader, Richard Leonard, last week during an exchange with the First Minister at FMQs.

Currently, 60,000 children in the private rented sector live in poverty. Scottish Labour’s Mary Barbour Bill will seek to cap rent increases for private sector renters ending rip-off rents and will give more security to tenants.

Jackie said:

“Private rents have been rising while wages have stagnated making it more and more difficult for renters to meet the cost of living.

“It is simply unacceptable that over forty per cent of all children living in the private rented sector are now living in poverty. That equates to 60,000 children.

“It is time that private rent rises are capped and controls are put in place to end this housing crisis.

“This SNP Government will have to decide whether they are on the side of breath-taking rent rises from landlords or hard-working Scots.”