New proposal could see tenants allowed to withhold rent
She said the amendment, backed by housing rights campaigners Living Rent, would also make the tribunal process, which deals with complaints, easier for tenants as landlords who act in bad faith would have to prove they have done enough to resolve the issue to unlock the withheld rent.
READ MORE:
Second homes tax could double in Scotland's tourist hot spots
Second home owners 'should not be blamed' for housing shortages
Christina McKelvie death triggered Jamie Greene defection from Tories to Lib Dems
'My proposals will make it easier for renters to stand up to rogue landlords and to get vital repairs done quickly," she said.
'At the moment, renters can do little except threaten to take their landlords to tribunals, which can be time consuming and stressful, and the burden of the tribunal falls on the renter.
'My amendment, which is backed by Living Rent, would allow tenants to withhold rent if their landlord hasn't fixed serious issues within a timeframe of 30 days of being notified about them."
She added: 'Renters should expect their homes to be maintained to the same standard as any other. But in some cases, there are landlords who simply feel it is okay to take rent and let their properties fester with damp, mould and serious problems that significantly impact health and wellbeing.
READ MORE:
Call to cut the number of Scottish health boards from 14 to three
Here's one good reason I'm glad I moved to Scotland
Alba not to stand a candidate in by-election 'out of respect' to late MSP
'While not all landlords let this happen, and many will be encouraged to keep up the good work, there are some bad faith actors who fail to maintain their properties. For those who rent these properties, it can be a miserable experience. People in this situation need more support and the power to make sure major repairs happen.'
Scottish Association of Landlords chief executive John Blackwood called for "robust enforcement" of existing laws to tackle rogue landlords.
He said: 'What we need is robust enforcement of current legislation through landlord registration, to remove rogue and criminal landlords from the sector who give law-abiding landlords a bad name.'
Ms Burgess's amendment to the Housing Bill is one of a series made by the Scottish Greens.
Others tabled by the party include proposals to allow ministers to increase the tax paid on purchases of holiday homes should they be located in new rent control areas which may be introduced north of the Border.
The Greens want ministers to raise the levy, known as the additional dwelling supplement, to 16% of the purchase price from the current level of 8%.
More than 400 amendments to the Housing Bill have been tabled.
The proposals will begin to be debated today by MSPs on Holyrood's local government, housing and planning committee.
The legislation will be voted on later at its final parliamentary stage - stage three - in the Holyrood chamber and if passed would allow councils to create rent control areas where rent is capped to certain levels.
Ministers have tabled an amendment proposing that rent rises are capped to the rate of inflation plus 1% to a maximum of 6%.
The Scottish Government has also set a target date for local authorities to make market assessments and recommendations on whether or not to introduce rent control areas. The new date is May 31 2027.
Responding to the Greens's amendments, a Scottish Government spokesman said: 'A number of amendments have been lodged by opposition MSPs at stage 2 of the Housing (Scotland) Bill and will be considered by the Local Government, Housing and Planning Committee.'
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Scotsman
5 minutes ago
- Scotsman
Trump's shock new tariff move could add $80 to Scottish products sold in the USA, says Parcelhero
Despite previously announcing that the US would keep its de minimis tariff threshold until July 2027, President Trump is now set to scrap it at the end of this month. That means all goods worth $800 or less entering the US from Scotland and the rest of the UK will no longer be exempt from US tariffs, says the international delivery expert Parcelhero. However, there are two hacks that will help senders avoid the worst impact of the new duties. Sign up to our Scotsman Money newsletter, covering all you need to know to help manage your money. Sign up Thank you for signing up! Did you know with a Digital Subscription to The Scotsman, you can get unlimited access to the website including our premium content, as well as benefiting from fewer ads, loyalty rewards and much more. Learn More Sorry, there seem to be some issues. Please try again later. Submitting... A shock decision by President Donald Trump means that America's $800 (£600) de minimis limit is set to be scrapped at the end of this month – that's two years earlier than previously announced. The unexpected acceleration of the axing of the USA's de minimis import threshold is likely to have a substantial impact on Scottish manufacturers and exporters of of 'low-value' goods to the US, warns the international delivery expert Parcelhero. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad It says sellers across Scotland and the rest of the UK were already preparing for the worst, as the scrapping of America's de minimis limit was originally announced in President Trump's One Big Beautiful Bill Act (OBBBA) last month. However, that legislation stated that the de minimis tariff exemptions would not be repealed until July 1, 2027. The White House now says: 'President Trump is acting more quickly to suspend the de minimis exemption than the OBBBA requires, to deal with national emergencies and save American lives and businesses NOW.' Exports of products valued at under $800 from Scotland and the rest of the UK to the US will soon cost American consumers more, as the US is set to scrap its de minimis tariff exemptions at the end of the month. Parcelhero's Head of Consumer Research, David Jinks M.I.L.T., says: 'Many UK-based exporters of products valued at $800 and under will be taken by surprise by the change. So-called low-value packages will now be subject to the same country-specific tariffs as larger shipments. The sudden increase in the cost of British goods to US consumers could result in UK exporters ending up with warehouses full of unsold items. The only alternative is to absorb the new charges themselves, rather than pass them on to their US customers. 'To give an idea of the scale of the potential impact of the axing of the de minimis limit, in the four quarters leading to the end of Q1, 2025, the UK exported £61.4bn-worth of goods to the US. While this total includes expensive products such as cars, it also includes millions of pounds worth of goods valued at $800 or less, which are about to be clobbered by tariffs for the first time. 'For example, last year the UK exported $138.87m-worth of apparel (including knitted and crocheted clothing), $109.37m-worth of ceramics and $256.75m-worth of toys, games and sports equipment to the US. Most of these products will have had a value of under $800. From the end of this month, these goods will all face new tariffs. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad 'The UK is one of the few countries to have reached a trade deal with the US. The terms of the UK's deal are reasonably favourable compared to the tariffs many other nations face. Under the terms of the deal, UK-produced goods now attract a 10% tariff when they arrive in the US whereas, currently, Brazil is facing tariffs of up to 50%. Good deal or not, however, the fact is that all lower-priced UK-produced goods will potentially cost US shoppers more from 29 August than they pay today. 'The new Executive Order states: 'The duty-free de minimis exemption shall no longer apply to any shipment of articles… regardless of value, country of origin, mode of transportation, or method of entry. Accordingly, all such shipments… shall be subject to all applicable duties, taxes, fees, exactions, and charges.' 'At the very least, that means that, if the UK's trade deal rate of 10% is applied, a UK-made coat costing $800, for example, will cost US shoppers an extra $80 (£60), which could make all the difference between whether they purchase a UK-made product or one manufactured in the US. That may not be the only applicable tariff, however, as it could also attract a further tax depending on the item's tariff code. 'Parcelhero is also concerned that, at least initially, a potential blanket $80 duty might be applied to every package of $800 or less arriving in the US from the UK by post. That's because the new Executive Order's small print states that packages shipped through the 'international postal system' will face EITHER a duty equal to the tariff rate applicable to the country of origin of the product (which in the UK's case would be 10% of the package's value) OR a 'specific' duty ranging from $80 to $200 per package. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad 'This 'specific' duty could mean a tariff of $80 will be slapped on all packages sent by international mail from the UK, regardless of whether they are worth $1 or $800. That's because a specific tariff of $80 is being applied to all parcels arriving by international post for all countries whose tariff rate is under 16% (a category which includes the UK). 'Believe it or not, this $80 fee could be a lot worse. A blanket $160 will be charged on packages arriving by post if the tariff rate of the country it originates from is between 16-25%, and $200 if the tariff rate of the country the package is posted from is above 25%. 'Why are these steep charges being applied so indiscriminately? When the de minimis limit was first cancelled for goods from China back in February, it resulted in US Customs chaos, the suspension of USPS deliveries of all packages from China and significant backlogs at airport cargo facilities. This blanket duty rate is presumably a way to avoid a similar logjam at the end of August as parcels will only face a specific duty based on the country they were mailed from. 'The good news is that Parcelhero has identified two ways senders can bypass some of the worst impacts of the ending of the de minimis limit. The first is to use an international courier service, rather than traditional postal services such as the Post Office. Using a courier bypasses the 'international postal system' blanket $80 specific duty. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad 'Our second hack applies particularly to individual senders, rather than businesses. American citizens can continue to receive bona fide gifts valued at $100 (around £75) or less duty-free. So, providing a UK-shipped parcel's documentation specifies the item is a gift and is worth less than the $100 limit, it will escape all new tariffs. 'One final piece of advice applies particularly to overseas traders considering exporting to the US via the UK, in order to qualify for the UK's preferential tariff rate. Don't try it! All goods that are considered to have been transshipped to avoid applicable duties will face a punitive 40% tariff.
The National
32 minutes ago
- The National
Labour's 'cruel' asylum returns deal with France comes into force
The treaty was published by the Home Office on Monday morning and it sets out how migrants will be detained on arrival in England to be sent back to France. In return, France will send over asylum seekers to the UK, if they pass security and eligibility checks, including having documentation. The trial will run until June 2026 and only some people arriving in small boats on the southern coast of England will be at risk of being returned. It has led to accusations that Labour are 'just as unprincipled and impractical' as the Tories before them, while concerns have also been raised about the effect of detaining people who have already fled wars and torture. Steve Valdez-Symonds, Amnesty International UK's refugee and migrants' rights director, said: 'When it comes to asylum policy, this Government is proving to be just as unprincipled and impractical as its predecessor.' (Image: Supplied) He argued that rather than 'smashing the gangs', as Labour have pledged, the policy only further entrenches the role of people-smugglers in the asylum system. 'A returns deal with France that makes access to safety in the UK – even for those with close family or connections here – dependent on someone else risking their life to cross the Channel only cements the role of smugglers in how people fleeing war and persecution must seek asylum in the UK,' said Valdez-Symonds. 'Once again, refugees are treated like parcels, not people, while the public is left to pay the price for, yet another cruel, costly failure dressed up as policy. READ MORE: Lindsay Hoyle blocks release of emails he sent to Israeli politicians 'The UK shares the same duty as other countries to provide asylum. But instead of facing that responsibility, this Government continues to swap one unworkable gimmick for another – aligning itself with the smugglers and the chaos they exploit. 'If the aim is to truly reduce dangerous journeys and the profits of organised criminal gangs, the answer is clear: we need safe accessible routes between countries not miserable deals that trade in human lives.' Natasha Tsangarides, associate director of advocacy at Freedom from Torture, said the policy relied 'on the mass detention of survivors of torture and persecution'. She added: 'We know from our therapy rooms how profoundly harmful any time in detention is for people who've been through the unimaginable horrors of torture. 'Many survivors were tortured in detention, so locking them up again reopens deep psychological scars and can set them back significantly on their road to recovery. A more secure world for everyone depends on international cooperation not only to ensure safety for survivors but also to stop repression.' In a statement, Prime Minister Keir Starmer said the deal was the result of 'months of grown-up diplomacy delivering real results for British people as we broker deals no government has been able to achieve and strike at the heart of these vile gangs' business model'. He added: 'This government has been fixing the foundations of the broken asylum system we inherited and today we send a clear message – if you come here illegally on a small boat you will face being sent back to France.' Not all those who arrive in the UK by small boat will be sent back to France, however. It is estimated that around 50 arrivals per week will be returned, which is around one in 17 of all people who make the crossing at the current rate, according to Politico.
Scottish Sun
36 minutes ago
- Scottish Sun
Talented politician Kate Forbes achieved more in 10 years than many do in a lifetime, says ex-SNP spin doctor
KATE EXIT Talented politician Kate Forbes achieved more in 10 years than many do in a lifetime, says ex-SNP spin doctor Click to share on X/Twitter (Opens in new window) Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window) IT is an odd thing to be writing a political obituary for a 35-year-old. But yesterday morning Deputy First Minister Kate Forbes stunned the world of Scottish politics by announcing she will not seek re-election next May. Sign up for the Politics newsletter Sign up 2 Kate Forbes, pictured with First Minister John Swinney at Holyrood, has announced she is stepping down Credit: PA While it may appear to many observers as a bolt from the blue, it is not a decision the ever-thoughtful MSP for Skye, Lochaber and Badenoch will have reached without a great deal of soul-searching and careful consideration. The deliberate words she selected to explain her decision in an open letter to the First Minister should be taken at face value. It's a tough balancing act between ministerial office and the commitment of a young family based 150 miles from Holyrood. Nobody is likely to begrudge a mother more time to enjoy the 'precious early years of family life' with wee Naomi, her daughter, who turned three yesterday. What will have been a difficult decision for Kate now raises some even tougher questions for our politics. As the party's head of communications and research, I first encountered Kate at a SNP candidate selection day in 2015. Of the dozens of wannabe parliamentarians being assessed to stand for election, she stood out by a country mile. She was fiercely intelligent, if a bit swotty. A natural communicator, more polished than many longstanding MSPs. And she was driven by a sense of duty to serve. She flourished as a new backbencher from 2016 to 2018 — as a team player within a parliamentary group of MSPs, and an inquisitorial committee member. She was someone clearly unafraid to think for herself, championing national and constituency causes on a range of issues: economic, cultural and environmental. Kate Forbes picks her biggest scandal of the SNP's time in power It came as no surprise that Nicola Sturgeon elevated her to junior finance minister in her 2018 reshuffle, a calling she undertook diligently, quickly impressing the business community. Her ability to step up to deliver a Scottish Budget mere hours after the resignation of Finance Secretary Derek Mackay in February 2020 — the first woman to do so in the Scottish Parliament — thrust her into the limelight. Days later, the finance brief in Cabinet was deservedly hers to keep. She held this post through the toughest of times, navigating the nation's finances and support for businesses through a global pandemic. In the 2021 election she was returned to Holyrood with the largest majority of any MSP on 56 per cent of the vote and in July 2022 she blazed another trail in becoming the first Cabinet secretary in the Government to take maternity leave. 2 Ex-SNP spin doctor says Kate Forbes can be proud of her time in politics Credit: Alamy Kate returned to the political fray with her eyes set on the top job, after Ms Sturgeon resigned as First Minister in 2023. She was pipped at the post by Humza Yousaf in a bruising leadership battle and then, just a year later, became John Swinney's deputy in exchange for her support for his leadership. Despite effectively being the runner-up in two leadership contests — one fiercely fought, the other de facto — she emerged a political winner with her head held high. It's a rare thing to announce your departure from the political arena with a reputation intact — she has regularly been polled as Scotland's most popular politician, with approval ratings generally higher among the population as a whole than within the SNP rank and file. It's no secret Kate has at times felt thwarted in realising her ambitions for Scotland in government. Her focus on economic growth, creating good jobs in communities from the Borders to Benbecula, has proved more challenging than should ever have been the case. More broadly, we can undoubtedly do better by our young, talented, female MSPs. Some of that is practical and should be urgently addressed by all parties. Kate herself lambasted the lack of creche facilities for young mothers in political life back in 2023 and colleagues such as Aileen Campbell and Gail Ross also quit to spend more time with their young families. While Holyrood has few late-night sittings like Westminster, the rigours of ministerial office and constituency work mean it's more than a full-time job, with little time left for family. Scotland's geography is a challenge, but our outdated transport infrastructure doesn't help. The torrent of hateful abuse directed at politicians has grown exponentially over recent years. Female politicians receive a disproportionate share of that bile, much of it laden with misogyny. Kate faced the slings and arrows of public opinion for her deeply-held Christian faith, including from within her own party, which challenged the fundamentals of just how tolerant a Scotland we live in today. But in a decade in politics, Kate has achieved more than many could hope to achieve in a lifetime. I dearly hope to see her return. Meanwhile, work must be done to make our politics a hell of a lot better. Fergus Mutch is a former SNP head of communications and is now managing partner of advisory firm True North.
