Meeting of the Parliament 21 January 2016
I, too, am a member of the Infrastructure and Capital Investment Committee, and I thank our convener, Jim Eadie, other committee members and the clerks for their contribution and support during stage 1 consideration. I also thank the stakeholders who gave the committee written and oral evidence, which informed and enhanced our deliberations: the National Union of Students Scotland, Shelter, Citizens Advice Scotland and Citylets, to name but a few. In particular, I want to highlight and say thanks for the contributions of small landlords—some of whom have one or only a few properties—who took the time to express their concerns and their general support for the principles of the bill.
The bill is all about striking a balance in a sector that is hugely important to Scotland’s housing needs. We have moved some way towards finding a balance that is fair and proportionate to tenants and landlords and that achieves the overall aim of improving security of tenure for tenants while providing appropriate safeguards for landlords, lenders and investors.
I look forward to the Government’s response to the stage 1 report. The report highlights a particular concern that I have about the six-month initial tenancy: the plight of someone who has entered into that arrangement and then finds themselves the victim of an abusive relationship. Being liable for a six-month period may put financial pressure on someone to remain in a home where they are at risk. I thank the people who contributed to the evidence-taking session that highlighted that important matter, particularly COSLA’s representative, Harry McGuigan. However, an exception only in that area could be open to abuse, and I ask the Government to consider what might be changed at stage 2 to protect vulnerable people in that situation.
Life can throw the most difficult and unexpected events at us. I am concerned that, not only in cases of domestic abuse but in other circumstances, the six-month tenancy could tie people to a property that, whatever the circumstances might be, it would be in their best interests to move from. I remain interested in the six-month initial tenancy, so I look forward to the Government’s response to the concerns about it that the committee highlighted.
I will discuss some of the concerns that others have mentioned in the debate. On Alex Johnstone’s one about the removal of the no-fault grounds for ending a tenancy, if someone behaves antisocially and causes distress to neighbours and, perhaps, the landlord, it is reasonable that they be evicted on those grounds, not on a no-fault basis. The bill holds the correct mechanism to allow people to take such cases to the tribunal and to ensure that, when they end a tenancy on that basis, they do so in accordance with the provisions in the bill. It will also protect the rights of landlord and tenants.
The bill will improve security for tenants. It will not be possible to ask them to leave their home simply because their tenancy agreement has reached its end date. The bill is comprehensive and robust on grounds for repossession—the minister has said how far she has moved on those—and provides an opportunity for local authorities to introduce rent caps. It is a balanced bill and I look forward to continuing with it to stage 2.
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