Dumfriesshire MSP Elaine Murray has called for rising private sector rents to be tackled by new laws.
Information released by letting agents Your Move shows the average rent in the South of Scotland standing at a new high of £512 per month, an increasing of 2.1% on the previous year.
Elaine Murray MSP has repeatedly backed Shelter Scotland’s “Make Renting Right” campaign, and supported proposals to the Housing (Scotland) Act last year to ban rip-off rent rises, only to see them blocked by the Scottish Government.
With nearly 9,000 private renters in Dumfries & Galloway, Elaine Murray MSP has said that the Scottish Government should admit they got it wrong and revisit the proposals.
Dumfriesshire MSP Elaine Murray said:
“These new figures show Landlords making more whilst more tenants struggle, and rent reform can no longer be afforded to be overlooked by the Scottish Government. The 9,000 private renters in Dumfries & Galloway deserve better than that.
“We need to reform the private rental sector to make it work for everyone, and realise that not all families have a desire to get a foot on the property ladder. It’s about supporting good landlords and preventing bad landlords from hiking up rents on unsuspecting tenants. That’s why I support Shelter Scotland’s “Make Renting Right” campaign, and will continue to push for a ban on rip-off rent rises.”
