Scottish National Party (SNP) MP Mhairi Black is supporting rent control plans in Scotland.
At 20-years-old, Black is the youngest elected MP for 350 years. She overthrew Labour’s shadow foreign secretary, Douglas Alexander, in the Paisley and Renfrewshire South seat in the general election.
She believes that now is the right time for rent controls: “Rising rent prices are putting huge pressure on people. Inflated rent prices prevent students getting suitable accommodation and it is time for a change.”1
The Living Rent Campaign’s Alasdair Clark, comments: “We’re thrilled to add Mhairi Black’s support to a long list of politicians, trade unions and civic organisations who have pledged their support for rent controls.
“Rising house prices and a lack of social housing means more and more people are being forced into one of the least regulated private rented sectors in Europe.
“Rents are rising at unaffordable levels across Scotland, forcing some tenants to choose between paying their rent and eating. It’s clear that there is no solution to Scotland’s housing crisis that doesn’t involve rent controls.
“Looking to countries like Germany and the Netherlands, which have well regulated and thriving private rental sectors, rent controls work across Europe and are the right option for Scotland too.”1
The Scottish Government is proposing rent controls in certain areas, which would be included in a new housing bill.
1 http://www.propertyindustryeye.com/youngest-elected-mp-for-350-years-backs-scottish-rent-controls/