The relentless rise of house prices combined with the squeeze on mortgage lending means more Scots than ever are having to rent their homes. It is a particular problem for ‘Generation Rent’ – twenty and thirty somethings who can no longer get on the property ladder and are facing life in rented property for the long-term. Figures show the percentage of 16 to 34 year olds now living in private rented housing increased hugely from 13% in 1999 to 41% in 2014.
The proportion of families living in the private rented sector has also increased: in one of the cases we highlight today, a couple in a tiny one-bedroom flat looking forward to the birth of their first child are also having to worry about affording the rent for a home with an extra bedroom.
The issue of battling with landlords is of course, nothing new. The famous Glasgow rent strikes of 1915 happened in response to tenement owners trying to vastly inflate rents as thousands flocked to the city for jobs in shipyards and munitions factories. A successful campaign led by Mary Barbour – which involved pelting bailiffs with flour bombs - eventually led to government legislation to restrict rents to pre-war levels.
Such drastic action is thankfully not required today. But with more and more Scots renting privately, the setting up of the Living Rent Tenants’ Union which will represent the interest of tenants is to be welcomed as a step forward for ordinary people defending their rights. The Scottish Government has taken action to improve the private rented sector, such as regulation of letting agents, setting up a tenancy deposit scheme and laws to enable tenants to challenge excessive rent rises. Such measures only work, though, if the legislation is actively monitored and enforced. Having a strong voice for tenants through the new union will play a vital part in this.
However relying on privately rented property – which is expensive, of varying quality and offers little security - should not be a long term solution to Scotland’s housing crisis. Having a decent, secure affordable home is one of the basic requirements of a just and fair society and should be available to all, which means more investment in social housing as well as tackling unscrupulous landlords.
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