Scotland freezes rents and rail fares to ease cost-of-living

Scotland freezes rents and rail fares to ease cost-of-living
September 6, 2022, 6:41 pm

Edinburgh is the capital city of Scotland and one of its 32 council areas - File photo. Pixabay

Scottish First Minister Nicola Sturgeon announced in parliament on Tuesday (Sep 6) that both rents and rail fares will be frozen to help the public to cope with an escalating cost-of-living crisis, according to the Anadolu Agency.

Rents will be frozen as of Tuesday and ScotRail fares will be frozen until at least March 2023, it said.

Speaking in Holyrood, the seat of the Scottish parliament, Sturgeon said the emergency announcement had two aims.

She said: “Firstly, it will aim to give people security about the roof over their heads this winter through a moratorium on evictions.”

“Secondly, the legislation will include measures to deliver a rent freeze. The Scottish Government does not have the power to stop your energy bills soaring, but we can and will take action to ensure that your rent does not rise.”

Sturgeon continued: “By definition, these are temporary measures, but they will provide much needed security for many during what will be a difficult winter.

Scotland on Tuesday (Sep 6) announced that both rents and rail fares will be frozen to help the public to cope with an escalating cost-of-living crisis - Photo. Pixabay

“We envisage that both measures will remain in place until at least the end of March next year and crucially, I can confirm that we will time the emergency legislation to ensure, subject of course to Parliament’s agreement, that the practical effect of this statement is that rents are frozen from today.”

Sturgeon added: “Two of the most important and fundamental sources of security for any of us are a job and a home.”

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“In times of economic and financial crisis, these can be the foundations that help people through,” she said.

Organizations representing landlords and tenants were quick to offer their views.

John Blackwood, chief executive of the Scottish Association of Landlords, said: “Once again the Scottish Government fails to grasp the reality of Scotland’s housing crisis and has chosen the easy option of attacking landlords for political reasons which will only further reduce the supply of housing, putting more people at risk. This is not a solution, it will only cause more hardship."

Living Rent, a union for tenants, said the rent freeze was a “huge win.”

Source: aa

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