Get all your news in one place.
100’s of premium titles.
One app.
Start reading
Daily Record
Daily Record
Politics
Paul Hutcheon

Scottish Government urged to freeze care home fees as part of emergency rent plan

Scottish ministers are being urged to amend rent freeze legislation to include fees for care home residents.

Labour MSP Alex Rowley is trying to widen the scope of a bill beyond tenants in the private and social rented sectors.

MSPs are expected to pass emergency legislation this week which would freeze rents and ban evictions until April.

The legislation would cap rent rises at zero per cent as of September 6 and give ministers the power to extend the Bill until the end of September next year and March 2024.

Rowley’s amendment would ensure the rent freeze for tenants also applies to people in care homes run by the private, public and voluntary sectors.

He told the Record: "Care home residents across Scotland are seeing huge increases in the fees they are charged. This legislation cannot discriminate against our elderly citizens, they must be included in any freeze.

"My amendment will ensure that care home residents receive the same treatment as other social and private tenants. I hope all MSPs will back my amendment so that our elderly loved ones are not ignored during this cost of living crisis.'

Evictions in most circumstances will also be halted if the legislation is passed.

Landlords will be able to begin eviction proceedings against tenants, but they cannot be removed from the property until the end of the restrictions.

But the Bill allows for landlords to evict tenants if they plan to live in or sell the property because of “financial hardship”, or because of substantial rent arrears – described as being at least six months of rent.

A fast-tracked process would see the first stage take place today and a final vote on Thursday.

To sign up to the Daily Record Politics newsletter, click here.

READ NEXT:

Sign up to read this article
Read news from 100’s of titles, curated specifically for you.
Already a member? Sign in here
Related Stories
Top stories on inkl right now
One subscription that gives you access to news from hundreds of sites
Already a member? Sign in here
Our Picks
Fourteen days free
Download the app
One app. One membership.
100+ trusted global sources.