The rally saw members of the public invited to spin the housing wheel of misfortune to draw attention to the different housing issues impacting the city.

Living Rent is calling on Glasgow City Council to implement the National Planning Framework 4 (NPF4) planning policy and enforce a minimum threshold of 25% affordable housing in all new housing developments.

Currently, the local authority does not mandate that developers follow the framework outlined in NPF4, only that the total housing stock in Glasgow is at least 25% affordable. 

Living Rent said that implementing NPF4 would bring much-needed affordable housing to Glasgow and has the potential to help alleviate the housing crisis.

The tenants union argues that the “proliferation of luxury-branded, build-to-let developments raise rents and further gentrification in Glasgow neighbourhoods”.

In 2023, Glasgow City Council declared the city was facing a housing emergency, with rising costs in private and social rents, increased social housing waiting lists, and an “overwhelming increase” in homelessness. Between 2010 and 2023, the average rent for a one-bedroom flat in Greater Glasgow increased by 81.2%, whereas the Consumer Price Index during that time increased by 45.7%.

Living Rent argues that the council must use its control over planning permission and influence new developments to tackle this crisis. 

Chair of Living Rent Glasgow, Bianca Lopez, said: “In November 2023, Glasgow City Council declared a housing emergency but since then they have failed to put their money where their mouth is. 

“Decades of under investment in social housing, an out of control private sector and the prioritisation of luxury developments have resulted in rents being pushed up to astronomic levels across the city, trapping tenants in insecure, unsafe, expensive and undignified housing.

“The money exists to build the housing Glasgow needs. Daily we see eye watering amounts invested in enormous new luxury developments being thrown up across the city. They contribute nothing to our city except pushing up rents and gentrifying our neighbourhoods.

“Glasgow City Council has the power to deliver much more affordable housing through adopting NPF4 and forcing developers to build the houses Glasgow needs. It is a political choice not to. Glasgow needs social housing not luxury flats.”