Now fight for democratic rent control, in England and Wales too!
Nick Auvache, Camden and Haringey Socialist Party
The Scottish parliament has announced a freeze on rents for both social and private-rented sectors, and a moratorium on evictions too.
These measures will be welcomed by many who were already wondering where the money would come from to pay the rent. But the measures by themselves are inadequate to meet the requirements of workers who have seen their wages and benefits dramatically eroded by inflation.
Scottish housing association tenants have responded to the lateness and limitations of Sturgeon’s statement, saying: “A rent freeze that only lasts from now until March 2023 doesn’t help housing association tenants whose rent went up in April and I expect will then go up again after the freeze ends, 15 years of the Scottish National Party in power and they’ve let private and social landlords run riot”.
Scottish first minister Nicola Sturgeon has made this announcement under pressure. Like in England and Wales, workers have been on strike demanding a pay rise and measures to deal with the cost of living.
Tenants in England and Wales facing the same squeeze need action too. Average rents are up almost 10% across the whole United Kingdom. Since the Westminster government lifted the Covid eviction ban in August 2021, homelessness is rising too – up 11% in the first three months of this year.
Pressure should be put on the Welsh Labour government and Labour-run local councils to act. To not just freeze rents at unaffordable levels, but bring in democratic rent controls, and fund a programme of mass council house building too.
Housing campaigners in England demand freezes
Housing campaign groups in England are making a similar demand to freeze social rents for council and housing association tenants. The groups also want a freeze on service charges and shared owner rents as the latter fall outside the social rent directive.
Government subsidy is being proposed for councils, and for housing associations based on proven need. The pressure has already succeeded in moving government to reduce the cap from expected 10+% to a maximum of 7% – a significant achievement given the absence of a functioning government over the last few weeks!
The fight continues and the demand is being backed up by a rent and service charge strike threat if increases go ahead. Find out more about the campaign at shaction.org/pledge-page
Suzanne Muna, Social Housing Action Campaign
