Emma Roddick’s Housing Bill amendment passes unanimously

Emma Roddick’s amendment to the Housing (Scotland) Bill – passed unanimously by Parliament – “will provide vital data for the Highlands and Islands”.

An amendment to the Housing (Scotland) Bill, lodged by Highlands and Islands MSP Emma Roddick, has passed unanimously in the Scottish Parliament. The amendment gives Scottish Ministers the power to require landlords to provide information about properties and tenancies, with the ultimate goal of improving housing policy. This change to Scotland’s housing laws, put forward by the SNP MSP, aims to improve standards for tenants and prevent homelessness. The amendment is expected to face its final vote next week.

Ms Roddick, who has experience of homelessness, has long been a campaigner on housing issues, particularly in the Highlands, where the housing crisis has been exacerbated by rural depopulation and the number of second homes and short-term lets. During her speech to Parliament, Ms Roddick highlighted how the current lack of reliable data has meant that policy has often been based on “anecdotes and guesses”. The amendment is a step towards a more robust and evidence-based approach to tackling the housing crisis.

The amendment gives Ministers the power to create a process, through regulations, to collect information from registered landlords about their properties and tenancies. This could include details such as the type and size of the house, the tenancy arrangement, and the amount of rent payable. This information would be a recurring duty for landlords, although it could not be required of a landlord more than once a year.

Commenting on the passing of the amendment, Ms Roddick said:

“For too long, we have been debating housing policy without a full picture.  It’s more difficult to solve a problem when you don’t have the full story.

“My amendment takes a crucial step forward, allowing us to gather the robust data we need to make truly effective policy decisions. In a region like the Highlands and Islands, where housing challenges are unique and acute, having accurate information about things like rent rates and property sizes is vital.

“I’d like to personally thank the folk who have contacted me to share their own experiences or concerns – your insight has been incredibly helpful in this process, and I encourage you to keep reaching out.

“I am so glad to have worked with the Cabinet Secretary to get this over the line, and I look forward to seeing the positive change that this new power will bring. We can now make better laws that work for both tenants and the vast majority of good landlords, ensuring that homes are primarily for the people who live in our communities, not just for profit.”

Ms Roddick’s consequential Amendment 262 also passed, which ensures that any future regulations made under the new powers will be subject to the affirmative procedure, giving Parliament the opportunity for full scrutiny.

During her contribution, Ms Roddick took interventions from Conservative and Reform members who were unsure, but “convinced” them during the debate, and the amendment passed unanimously.