The Official Report is a written record of public meetings of the Parliament and committees.
All Official Reports of meetings in the Debating Chamber of the Scottish Parliament.
All Official Reports of public meetings of committees.
Displaying 2095 contributions
Local Government, Housing and Planning Committee
Meeting date: 3 September 2024
Willie Coffey
Yes. We are into the evictions space. Tony Cain, your submission to the committee was quite clear: you think that the bill is a missed opportunity to review all the grounds for possession. Will you explain to us why you said that, and how can we make improvements in the timescales that we have for the bill?
Local Government, Housing and Planning Committee
Meeting date: 3 September 2024
Willie Coffey
You have posed several questions there. What could the Government reasonably do to address some of those concerns and incorporate that in the provisions of the bill?
Local Government, Housing and Planning Committee
Meeting date: 3 September 2024
Willie Coffey
Thank you. Do Callum Chomczuk or Mike Callaghan have any comments about the eviction clauses in the bill and how we could perhaps improve them?
Local Government, Housing and Planning Committee
Meeting date: 3 September 2024
Willie Coffey
I have a very brief question for Tony Cain on the deposit retention issue. You said that things are clear and that there are processes for all that, but I know of a case in which a person who was leaving a tenancy left behind what he considered to be helpful materials, including a kettle and a hoover, because he was moving to Australia, but he was penalised for that and got a bill for removing them. He thought that he was doing the new tenant a favour by leaving them there.
Local Government, Housing and Planning Committee
Meeting date: 3 September 2024
Willie Coffey
Good morning, everybody. Clearly the intention behind the rent control provisions in the bill is to provide some kind of stability and support for tenants’ housing costs. Will that be the outcome that the bill will achieve? I am aware that an Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development report told us that 13 countries operate rent controls and that another 23 countries, I think, have some kind of restriction on rent increases. It is a measure that seems to be used and applied elsewhere. What are your views about the rent control principle itself? Does it provide the stability for tenants that the Government hopes it will achieve?
Local Government, Housing and Planning Committee
Meeting date: 3 September 2024
Willie Coffey
Thank you. Callum Chomczuk, will the rent control principle have the desired effect that we hope it will have?
Local Government, Housing and Planning Committee
Meeting date: 3 September 2024
Willie Coffey
Mike Callaghan, do you have any comments on the eviction process and proposals? Could we improve them, tighten them up or clarify them?
Local Government, Housing and Planning Committee
Meeting date: 3 September 2024
Willie Coffey
I turn to the tribunal process. I will direct this question to Callum Chomczuk and Mike Callaghan as Tony Cain is a member of the tribunal. During some of our evidence sessions, tenants and landlords have raised concerns about the operation of the tribunal process. Do you have any insight, knowledge or experience of that? Be careful what you say, because you are sitting next to Tony.
Local Government, Housing and Planning Committee
Meeting date: 3 September 2024
Willie Coffey
An act of kindness was penalised.
Local Government, Housing and Planning Committee
Meeting date: 25 June 2024
Willie Coffey
Thanks. Gilly or James, do you have anything to add?