STOP PRESS:- THURSDAY 18 FEB 2021 1330hrs The Minister has withdrawn the Licensing Regulation I launched the Homes First campaign in 2017 to highlight problems with the legislative and regulatory regime around short-term lets (STLs). Throughout my time as an…
Wrongful Termination Orders
In July 2019, the First Tier Tribunal issued an eviction order for a tenant living in a small studio flat in Edinburgh. The ground for eviction was that the landlord – along with his wife and daughter – wished to…
Press release: soaring rents shows need for rent controls
Rising private rents across Scotland reveal the failure of the SNP’s flagship rent pressure zones policy and the need for proper rent controls, Scottish Greens housing spokesperson Andy Wightman has said. New stats published by the Scottish Government show that…
Housing (Scotland) Act 1987 (Tolerable Standard) (Extension of Criteria) Order 2019
Reading time: 5 minutes The Scottish Parliament is being asked to delay the implementation of regulations on smoke and carbon monoxide alarms. This follows an upswell in public concern over ‘new rules’ about fire alarms in privately owned homes. But…
Speech to SGP Autumn Conference 2020
Text of a 15 minute speech Good afternoon friends. I am delighted to be with you this morning at our autumn conference. As we prepare for a Scottish election next year and local elections the year after, green politics has…
Short-term lets: what next?
10 minute read The problems caused by the rampant expansion of short-term letting in Edinburgh are by now well known. Since launching my #HomesFirst campaign in November 2017, I have been arguing for proper regulation of this activity. During this…
Coronavirus (Scotland) (No.2) Bill – housing amendments
This is a brief blog to explain the background to the rented housing amendments I lodged at Stage 2 of the Coronavirus (Scotland) (No.2) Bill on Tuesday 19 May and those I intend to lodge at Stage 3 to be…
Stop Colin Brown being evicted
Over the past few months I have been assisting a constituent to resist a Notice to Quit served on him to evict him from his home. I have set a Crowdfunder up to raise funds to pursue a legal case…