Scottish Liberal Democrats respond to Housing Bill

Responding to the publication of the Scottish Government’s Housing (Scotland) Bill today, Scottish Liberal Democrat communities spokesperson Willie Rennie MSP said:

“The SNP Government has refused to acknowledge the housing crisis. Ministers have axed a third from the housing budget, presided over record high levels of homelessness and let the number of affordable housing approvals fall to its lowest level for more than a decade.

“The cumulative effect of both this bill and similar legislation over the past few years is concerning and needs to be taken into consideration, especially in relation to rent controls.

“In trying to resolve one problem, there is a real risk that the legislation exacerbates many others and does nothing to make things better for communities. That’s why Scottish Liberal Democrats would re-establish social renting as a long-term option and bring thousands of long-term empty homes back into use."