A HUGE majority of Scots back rent controls and housing protections, polling has found.
Commissioned by the Scottish Greens, the survey revealed Scots want to stop landlords from continuing to hike rents.
We previously told how hundreds of landlords in Scotland attempted to raise rents above the 12% limit set by Scottish ministers.
The measures ended on April 1, with any tenant seeking to challenge a rent hike will now have his assessed according to open market prices.
The Housing (Scotland) Bill, which contains plans for rent controls, is currently making its way through Holyrood.
The polling, carried out by Diffley, showed that 74% of people in Scotland support rent controls.
It also found that 83% believe rents are too high compared to income levels.
And, 69% back Scottish Green plans to force landlords to sell long-term derelict land and housing that they are sitting on.
The Scottish Government’s plans for rent controls would allow landlords to increase rents at the rate of the Consumer Price Index (CPI), a measure of inflation, plus 1%, up to a maximum increase of 6%.
However, the Greens have lodged amendments ensuring that rents can't rise faster than incomes, if MSPs back them.
The Greens proposals would instead cap rent by the CPI, earnings growth or 6%, whichever is lowest.
This would mean rents would increase no more than the cost-of-living or increases in wages. In areas where rents are already too high, local councils would be able to put in place lower increases, freezes or rent reductions.
Scottish Green MSP Maggie Chapman said: “It is no wonder that there is such strong support for rent controls. The housing market is completely broken, and it is renters who are paying the price. It underlines just how crucial it is that we take action.
"We've all seen how much damage is being done by rogue landlords who have been given carte blanche to line their pockets through massive rent increases.
“Not only does this hurt renters, often pushing them into poverty or even homelessness, but it hurts our economy as people have less money to spend.
“This is why the Scottish Greens implemented a rent freeze and eviction ban during Covid, saving people thousands of pounds, and it’s why we so strongly opposed the SNP ending the protections that we put in place afterwards.”
Chapman said the Housing Bill was an opportunity to “stop the exploitation of renters and end rip-off rents”.
“We must seize it,” she added.
“We must offer people and their families some financial stability, and less worry about losing the roof over their heads. Homes are for living in and not for profiteering. We need to make unfair and unaffordable rent hikes a thing of the past.”
A Scottish Government spokesperson said: “Supporting tenants is a priority for the Scottish Government.
"Scotland already has some of the strongest rights in the UK for tenants, and we are taking forward measures in the Housing Bill to support the introduction of longer-term rent control where this is needed.
“This year, the Scottish Government will also invest £2 million through the Empty Homes Partnership as part of its work with councils to drive down the number of privately owned long-term empty homes.”
