Scottish Labour leader Anas Sarwar has criticised the SNP's pledge to give private renters first refusal if their home is put up for sale, saying it "will not fix a broken system". Speaking as he launched his party's battle bus in Glasgow ahead of the May election, Mr Sarwar said many renters in Scotland feel they have been "forgotten about" by the SNP Government.
First Minister John Swinney had announced plans to introduce legislation to bring in the change if the SNP secures another term in power. This would mean if a landlord decides to put a property on the market, tenants would be given a period of first refusal to buy it "at a fair market rate", Mr Swinney said. He argued such a move could "help people to put down roots and to feel secure in their own home".
But Mr Sarwar dismissed the idea, stating: "I think everyone will accept in principle that those who have been long-term tenants should have the right to buy their home, but the reality is it will not fix a broken system that the SNP has broken over the last 20 years." He highlighted that rough sleeping has increased by 66% and there are over 10,000 homeless children in Scotland under the SNP's watch.
Scottish Labour has pledged to build 125,000 new homes in the next parliament, introduce a tax rate for young people buying their first home, and take action to drive down the cost of rent and mortgages. Mr Sarwar said: "We'll make sure we have a housing system that works for every part of our country, because I think a lot of communities feel that they're forgotten about by this SNP Government."
Speaking to MFR radio in Inverness, Mr Swinney said the policy would mean Scots who were renting "for a long time" would "have a chance to get on the property ladder". He added: "It's just about giving a bit more opportunity for renters who've been committed to individual properties to have a chance of acquiring that property should it come on the market." Mr Swinney said he wanted the move to be "an opportunity that works well for both landlords and also for renters".
