As the cold evening wind whistled in, the protesters rallying outside Holyrood admitted they would rather be in their homes, away from the chill. Except, they do not have their own homes to go to— not really.
“Cold blooded parasites” have control over their flats, the crowd shouted. No matter where they stay or where they move to, “vampiric creatures” leach their sense of safety. Contentment at home is “impossible,” they said, when another’s greed may snatch the four brick walls you have built your life inside of right out of your hands.
In reality, the “blood thirsty predators” the protestors say they face have no fangs and no claws; the threat they fear is their landlords.
Over 300 protesters gathered outside of the Scottish Parliament on Monday September 22, ahead of the final vote on the Housing (Scotland) Bill. The bill includes introducing rent control areas and limiting landlords’ ability to evict tenants.
Organised by Living Rent, Scotland’s tenants’ and community union, the crowd was full of proud, passionate lobbyists holding socialist placards pleading to “End Landlord Greed” and “Give Rent Caps Now.”
One man was holding a sign showing a can of Tennent’s. He explained it was a lighthearted way of grabbing people’s attention. Humour might get people involved, he said, and if Living Rent’s membership grows, the odds of politicians listening to them will improve.
“I just hope that coming out here tonight makes a difference and they pass this law,” he said, bundled up in his hat and scarf.
However, the movement for tenants’ rights, he added, goes “far beyond” tonight. This evening’s Holyrood protest was organised for the Housing Bill, but it serves a second purpose.
On one hand, the bill provides protections to shield tenants from “hungry landlords.” So, they protest outside the Government gates to ensure it passes.
On the other, the Union insists more changes must happen. They hope rallying with passion will show the legislators that this not the end of their campaign for tenants’ rights.
To them, this bill is just the beginning.
After three hours, the crowd dispersed into the darkness of the early autumn evening to go to their homes. Tomorrow, they will continue to worry over their precarious realities living in rental properties. Although, they will also wake up with a little bit of hope that MSPs will vote in favour of the changes they desperately seek.
Featured image credit: Alex Paterson
Editor-in-Chief.
Twitter/X and BlueSky: @AlexPaterson01
