Scotland freezes rents and vetoes evictions until the end of winter

The uncertainty of the energy market forces the application of new measures.

Thomas Osborne
Thomas Osborne
06 September 2022 Tuesday 09:30
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Scotland freezes rents and vetoes evictions until the end of winter

The uncertainty of the energy market forces the application of new measures. This Tuesday was Scotland's turn. Chief Minister Nicola Sturgeon has announced emergency legislation to freeze rents and ban evictions until at least March, in anticipation of a year-end marked by high prices.

In an appearance before the autonomous Parliament of Holyrood (Edinburgh), Sturgeon outlined a government plan focused on dealing with the cost of living crisis and demanded that the new British Prime Minister, the conservative Liz Truss, raise the funding so that Scotland can increase social benefits.

"The Scottish Government has no power to prevent the energy bill from continuing to rise, but we can take action to ensure that the rent does not rise," said the leader of the Scottish National Party (SNP, in English).

Sturgeon has also detailed that the temporary veto on evictions and rent increases will apply "from now on" to both the public and private sectors.

The chief minister, who aspires to hold a new independence referendum in 2023, stressed that the details of her plans for the coming months will be up in the air until Truss outlines her own program for the whole of the United Kingdom.

"If Truss cuts taxes, in an irresponsible and regressive way, and cuts spending on public services, that will have an immediate effect on the Scottish budget," he said.

"We will continue to apply maximum pressure on the British Government to provide the additional funds that we so desperately need," concludes the minister.