VP Communities Justine Pédussel hopes that housing “might not be the biggest issue in the cost-of-living crisis” after campaigning for change in the new Scottish Housing Bill.
In March 2024, The Scottish Government proposed the Housing Bill 2025. The Bill passed Stage one, where MSPs debated and voted on its general principles.
Pédussel’s work with MPs and MSPs
Pédussel has focused her campaigning on students’ issues, such as approaching Scottish Housing Minister Paul McLennan MSP about the amendment of the Tenancy Act 2016 to include student housing “in a positive light for the first time”.
She also worked with other Sabbatical Officers at Westminster to meet with MPs and encourage them to speak to MSPs about student housing rights.
The Officers have met with around 14 MSPs so far.
She says, “We’re meeting with every single MSP and we’re explaining what the situation is for students, telling them that there’s just nothing about student housing in the Bill and we have a list of demands.”
Pédussel created the brief alongside Ruth Elliot, VP Communities at Edinburgh University and Cameron Fields, Herriot-Watt’s Students’ Union.
Demanding Change for Students
The National Union of Students found that 93 per cent of student renters reported issues with housing in 2023, with 42 per cent having mould or mildew, 41 per cent having issues with heating/cooling, and 22 per cent having pest infestations such as mice and rats.
Guarantor schemes are in the works to be abolished, with Pédussel arguing that students are “forced into Purpose-Built Student Accommodation (PBSA)” with rising costs pushing students into multiple jobs.
Another demand brought to MSPs is regulation for PBSAs.
The brief states: “Rent levels must be tied to the quality of the accommodation provided – for example, energy performance ratings, state of repair, and the size of property.”
The Scottish Housing Bill has six main parts, covering issues like rent, keeping pets and deposits.
For example, Part One proposed that Scottish Ministers should be given the power to introduce rent control areas.
These areas introduce restrictions on rent increases at the beginning of a tenancy and how often rent can increase.
Pédussel asserted that the Housing Bill will “regulate student housing and give it rent controls.”
Next Steps
Now in Stage two, MSP’s can issue amendments, which are then voted on by a committee.
There is no time frame for Stage Two but it is expected to be completed by the end of April.
Then, the amendments will be voted on to create the final draft of the Bill.
The full Bill, prior to any amendments, can be found here.
Featured Image Credit:Ruth Elliott, EUSA VP Community.
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