Living Rent

Tenants union Living Rent is bidding to demand more rights for tenants in Glasgow by creating tenants union for renters in the city. The group planned to form the union just weeks after the Grenfell Tower tragedy in London, the aftermath of which brought an increased awareness of the importance of a

A demonstration is to take place today to urge Whiteinch and Scotstoun Housing Association to reverse a decision to close the communal spaces in two sheltered housing complexes, even though the Association maintains it has no plans to carry out the closures. Tenants’ union Living Rent said it has

Tenants’ union Living Rent has secured a new home for single mum Amanda Gallagher who was facing imminent eviction from her and her son’s family home. Amanda’s struggle began when her letting agent, Glasgow-based AVJ Homes, issued an email to Amanda requesting that she pay an illegal £20 admi

High street banking giant Santander has confirmed that it will remove a clause in its buy-to-let mortgages which housing campaigners claimed previously forced landlords to get "the maximum increase in the rent". Following a petition signed by almost 1,000 renters, activists from Living Rent in Scotl

Tenants have launched Scotland’s first national union for people living in the private rented sector. Run for and by tenants, Living Rent will provide support for renters and campaign for better housing in Scotland. Tenants say the union will act as a counter-balance to landlords’ industry bodie

New legislation that will modernise the private rented sector (PRS) was passed last night by the Scottish Parliament. The Private Housing (Tenancies) (Scotland) Bill will create simpler tenancies, offer stability and security to the 700,000 tenants who call the private rented sector home, and ensure

Delegates at the SNP Spring Conference have voted overwhelmingly to support a resolution committing the party to supporting the introduction of national rent controls for all tenants. The proposal calls on the party leadership to go beyond the local rent controls in the Private (Housing) Tenancies B

The Scottish Government has passed amendments to its Private Tenancies Bill to strengthen its proposed rent control laws, though campaigners have warned that ministers need to go further to ensure protections for vulnerable tenants are guaranteed under the new legislation. The Private Housing (Tenan

The Scottish Government has been urged to scrap plans for a six-month initial tenancy period for private landlords over fears it could force victims of domestic violence to stay in abusive relationships. Homeless Action Scotland has asked for an amendment to the Private Housing (Tenancies) Bill, set

John Finnie The need for rent controls in the Highlands and Islands, where rents are rising faster than in any other part of Scotland, has become “urgent”, according to John Finnie MSP.

A new report has outlined comprehensive plans to reduce rents in the private rented sector (PRS) as a crucial part of addressing Scotland's housing crisis. Published today to coincide with the centenary of the Glasgow Rent Strike, which led to the first rent controls being introduced in the UK, the

Annie Mauger Attempts by the Scottish Government to provide “more security, stability and predictability” to tenants renting in the private rented sector (PRS) have been broadly welcomed, though concerns have been raised proposals may harm investment in the sector.

The Living Rent Campaign has called on the Scottish Government to take action following “unacceptable” rent increases of more than 8 per cent in a year in Edinburgh. New research from Citylets has shown that average 2-bedroom rents in Edinburgh have increased by 8.5 per cent in one year, up more

By the Living Rent Campaign Perhaps the most important question about reforming or growing the private rented sector is currently not part of the debate: do people actually want to rent from a private landlord? The sector is growing quickly, and the Scottish Government looks set to encourage that gr

The complexity of the UK government’s plans to make private sector landlords legally responsible for checking the immigration status of their tenants is seeing lawful tenants being refused housing, according new research. Having been piloted in the West Midlands, the government announced last mont