The Housing Bill is a key component of the Scottish Government’s plan to address the housing crisis. Key measures include rent controls, protection against illegal evictions and the right to keep a pet and to redecorate as a tenant.

According to Living Rent, MSPs have “a historic opportunity to show what a progressive response to the housing crisis looks like”. The tenants’ union said MSPs need to vote to protect tenants and commit to a robust system of rent controls that tie rents to the property and that have the capability to bring rents down.

In the past year, due to the pressure of increased rents and a shortage of social housing, the Scottish Government declared a national housing emergency. To date 13 of the 32 local authorities in Scotland have declared a housing emergency. Declaring a housing emergency recognises the pressures facing residents, the overall increase in homelessness applications, and the lack of adequate resources to process them.

Polling from Future Economy Scotland has found that the majority of people in Scotland support rent controls. Support is particularly high among SNP voters (90%) and Labour voters (88%). A majority of Conservative voters (61%) also support rent control.

Living Rent’s national campaigns chair, Ruth Gilbert, said: “If this government is serious about ending the housing emergency and child poverty, it needs to bring in robust rent controls that bring rents down.

“Decades of poor regulation and a reliance on the free market have seen landlords hike up rents to eye-watering prices. Meanwhile, our wages have stagnated and the cost of living overall has pushed people further into poverty.

“MSPs have a historic opportunity to show what a progressive response to the housing crisis looks like. International evidence shows that rent controls decrease inequality, improve private tenants’ security of tenure, and improve the quality of housing stock overall.

“In the midst of a national housing emergency, MSPs must listen to tenants and vote to introduce strong, effective rent controls tied to the property that bring rents down. Landlords are currently incentivised to evict tenants to hike up rents - this perverse loophole must be closed by extending rent controls between tenancies. Only then will PRS tenants have greater security of tenure.

“Scotland’s tenants are counting on the Scottish Government to properly listen to their experiences and their needs. We deserve nothing less.”

Patrick Harvie, MSP for the Glasgow region and a key proponent of the Bill during his time in government, said: “If we get it right, the Housing Bill could be one of the most important pieces of legislation that will be introduced in the lifetime of this parliament, so we have to make sure it’s not watered down.

“All over our country, there are households and families struggling to make ends meet and worrying about how they will pay their rent. It doesn’t need to be like this.

“Everyone has the right to a warm, safe and affordable place to call home. We need to ensure that this Bill is robust and that it gives tenants the protection, stability and peace of mind that they need. That should include making rents more affordable, and helping to repair our broken housing market.

“That’s what I set out to do when I was the minister leading on this Bill. We will stand against all attempts to water it down or to put the interests of the exploitative landlords ahead of tenants.”

Lilian Macer, regional secretary at UNISON Scotland, added: “Housing issues play a significant part in the recruitment and retention crisis we have in our public services; with high private rents, insecurity and poor quality accommodation making many areas difficult to live in.

“It’s a particular difficulty for our younger members. They tell us that they are struggling with their rent, are unable to get a mortgage and have given up on getting social housing. They need strong enforceable rent controls – that are attached to properties, not tenancies. We are supportive of the measures currently contained in the Housing Bill and can see no valid reason for diluting or abandoning any of them.”

Jeanette Findlay, president, UCU Scotland, said: “The private rented sector is a major housing provider for both university staff and students. We’ve heard from members about the broken housing system in Scotland and the need for better security for tenants and for affordable rents. Rent controls are an important part of this and we’d urge MSPs to vote for the principles of this bill and build a housing system that works for tenants.”