Scottish Parliament – Dec. 21, 2021 – 3

The result of the vote on motion S6M-02625, in the name of Patrick Harvie, on a new deal for tenants, as amended, is: For 89, Against 28, Abstentions 0. Motion, as amended, agreed to, That the Parliament notes the publication of the consultation on A New Deal for Tenants , which seeks views on the Scottish Government’s ambitious plans for the rented sector;

agrees that the 1.85 million people who live in the rented sector should have improved quality, standards and rights in the place they call home;

supports the aims of A New Deal for Tenants to ensure tenants have more secure and stable tenancies, flexibility to personalise their homes, improved safeguards against eviction, improved regulation and effective national rent controls in the private sector;

agrees that the legislation establishing the framework for these rent controls must be included in the forthcoming Housing Bill in the second year of the current parliamentary session;

recognises that this strategy will support progress towards the human right of an adequate home for all;

welcomes, therefore, this draft strategy seeking to make renting a home more affordable, safer, with a higher quality, better managed and more secure;

urges the Scottish Government to also address the issues around the availability of private rented properties;

considers that it should increase its ambitions for the building of more homes for social rent, and believes that increasing the supply of affordable rented housing is necessary to give people security, stabilise the housing market and support progress towards the human right of an adequate home for all.