Chamber
Meeting of the Parliament 23 September 2025 [Draft]
23 Sep 2025 · S6 · Meeting of the Parliament
Item of business
Housing (Scotland) Bill: Stage 3
In the interest of time, I will be brief. I associate myself with Willie Rennie’s contribution, particularly in relation to the balance that he is seeking to strike between investment and actions to support tenants and address affordability. I agree with him entirely on that.
I am pleased to hear that members across the chamber will support Pam Duncan-Glancy’s amendments, which represent a big step forward in facilitating opportunities to end tenancies in certain circumstances.
Edward Mountain asked me to comment on his amendment 221. I am afraid that extending or increasing the maximum deposit could make it more difficult for those who are seeking to satisfy a landlord’s deposit requirements, despite the fact that his intention is to make it easier.
In respect of Ross Greer’s comments, I have spoken to the fact that expert-led work is well advanced and I do not require the rigidity of primary legislation to make this work. I invite Ross Greer and other members to work with me on it.
I therefore urge members to support my amendments, which are absolutely essential to removing a flawed stage 2 amendment from the bill.
In the same item of business
The Presiding Officer (Alison Johnstone)
NPA
The next item of business is stage 3 proceedings on the Housing (Scotland) Bill. In dealing with the amendments, members should have the bill as amended at s...
The Presiding Officer
NPA
Group 1 is on student tenancies and accommodation. Amendment 123, in the name of the Cabinet Secretary for Housing, is grouped with amendments 124, 137, 150,...
The Cabinet Secretary for Housing (Màiri McAllan)
SNP
I am pleased to begin our stage 3 consideration of the Housing (Scotland) Bill with group 1. Amendment 105, in the name of Pam Duncan-Glancy, seeks to provid...
Ross Greer (West Scotland) (Green)
Green
Will the cabinet secretary take an intervention?
Màiri McAllan
SNP
I will finish this point, and then I will be glad to do so. It is not appropriate to specify that certain groups of students can end a tenancy whereas other...
Ross Greer
Green
For the sake of time, I clarify to the cabinet secretary that, given that we all agree on the outcome, I am happy not to move my amendments 372 and 388 and f...
Màiri McAllan
SNP
I, too, believe that amendment 105 and its consequential amendment 116, in the name of Pam Duncan-Glancy, present the best, most balanced approach to the iss...
Meghan Gallacher (Central Scotland) (Con)
Con
Does the cabinet secretary understand that introducing rent controls in the way that the Scottish National Party Government has done in recent years has left...
Màiri McAllan
SNP
My amendments seek to remove an erroneous Conservative amendment that was agreed to at stage 2, which immediately caused considerable upset and concern in th...
Pam Duncan-Glancy (Glasgow) (Lab)
Lab
I appreciate the minister’s point. However, on that basis, can she comment on the fact that, for example, since 2015, 28 per cent of approvals for accommodat...
Màiri McAllan
SNP
I absolutely take note of the point and the statistics that Pam Duncan-Glancy puts to me, and I do not doubt for a second that there are pressures to be work...
Ross Greer
Green
I am glad that the cabinet secretary mentioned that much of the work on drafting model terms and conditions is already under way. That is why amendment 373 i...
Màiri McAllan
SNP
First, it is not necessary to do so. The work is well under way—it is well progressed. A range of experts have been involved in its formulation and the work ...
The Deputy Presiding Officer (Liam McArthur)
LD
Thank you, cabinet secretary. I point out to members that if amendment 136, in the group on rent conditions and designation of rent control areas, is agreed ...
Maggie Chapman (North East Scotland) (Green)
Green
I will just take a wee moment to thank everyone on the legislation team for all their meticulous work, over many, many months, on this bill. I thank the cabi...
Fergus Ewing (Inverness and Nairn) (Ind)
Ind
What would the member say to my constituent, who wrote to me this week to say that she has one flat with a tenant who has not paid rent for six months, with ...
Maggie Chapman
Green
I thank the member for that intervention—maybe. Later in the bill process—probably not today, but tomorrow or next week—we will come to comment specifically ...
Edward Mountain (Highlands and Islands) (Con)
Con
Every time that we discuss the bill, I will remind members of my entry in the register of members’ interests. To be perfectly clear, and so that there is no ...
Maggie Chapman
Green
What does Edward Mountain think happens if a landlord sells a property because they no longer wish to continue being a landlord? Does he not accept that that...
Edward Mountain
Con
That is a wonderful idea, Ms Chapman—just come up to the Highlands and have a look round. I am sure that other members in this chamber, such as Ms Forbes, wi...
Pam Duncan-Glancy
Lab
I thank the cabinet secretary for her indication that the Government will support my amendments 105 and 116, which will provide for the creation of regulatio...
Graham Simpson (Central Scotland) (Reform)
Reform
I have just one amendment in the group, which is amendment 239. At the moment, councils do not have to factor in the needs of students when producing local h...
Ross Greer
Green
The issues that are raised by amendments 372 and 388 have been covered, so I will not move those amendments. Amendment 373 and the consequential amendment ...
Willie Rennie (North East Fife) (LD)
LD
I want to discuss drawing purpose-built student accommodation into the rent control measures. I attended the Local Government, Housing and Planning Committee...
Ross Greer
Green
As I have acknowledged, it is clear that Graham Simpson’s stage 2 amendment will be undone, by majority, today. However, given what Mr Rennie has said, how d...
Willie Rennie
LD
I do not think that the voluntary scheme has been scrutinised effectively. Graham Simpson’s amendment has brought greater Government focus on trying to get t...
The Deputy Presiding Officer
LD
I call the cabinet secretary to wind up.
Màiri McAllan
SNP
In the interest of time, I will be brief. I associate myself with Willie Rennie’s contribution, particularly in relation to the balance that he is seeking to...
The Deputy Presiding Officer
LD
The question is, that amendment 123 be agreed to. Are we agreed? Members: No.
The Deputy Presiding Officer
LD
There will be a division. There will be a five-minute suspension to allow members to log into the digital voting system. 15:35 Meeting suspended. 15:41 On ...