Ariane Burgess welcomes help for Highland tenants
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Ariane Burgess, the Scottish Greens MSP for the Highlands and Islands has welcomed the Scottish Government’s announcement of a national rent freeze and an eviction ban until at least March, which they say will provide “vital stability and support” for tenants across the Highlands and Islands at a time when many are suffering.
The announcement was made as part of the Programme for Government and will help tenants across the Highlands and Islands where the average monthly rent is £491, which is an increase of 19% since 2010.
The MSP said: “With soaring inflation and skyrocketing bills, these are desperate times for tenants all across Scotland. People in the Highlands and Islands have been hit by increasing rents.
“We are facing the biggest social emergency for decades. The rent freeze and eviction ban that the First Minister announced will provide vital stability and support for tenants across the Highlands and Islands and beyond at a time when many are suffering.
“It is one of the steps we are taking, in partnership with the Scottish Government, to mitigate the damage being done by Downing Street and the energy companies.
“Improving tenants rights and tackling inequality are at the heart of the cooperation agreement that we agreed with the Scottish Government and must be at the heart of our recovery.
“Over the course of this parliamentary term Scotland will see the biggest expansion of tenants rights since devolution, with more rights for tenants to make a house a home by keeping pets and decorating, better protections from eviction and, perhaps most importantly, a robust system of rent controls.”
