New proposals to improve the private rented sector are welcome but are only 'halfway' to the bigger reforms that are really needed.

That's according to housing and homelessness charity, Shelter Scotland, which today (Monday) submits its response to the Scottish Government’s Private Housing (Scotland) Bill which was put out for consultation in March [2].

The charity will also hold a half-day conference on the private rented sector in Edinburgh today (Monday) to discuss the Government’s proposals. [3]

Graeme Brown, Director, Shelter Scotland, housing and homelessness charity, said: 'We support the majority of the measures in this bill but it is modest in its scope and is really only a Halfway House Bill. Mostly it tinkers with existing arrangements, rather than the comprehensive reform of the sector needed to benefit tenants and good landlords.

'This would mean the Scottish Government committing to a second bill covering the likes of an overhaul of regulation of the private rented sector, including landlord registration, a revamp of tenancy laws to promote longer term tenancies, and effective action against illegal eviction.

He added: 'A properly regulated private rented sector that ensures a safe and secure home for tenants and is operated completely by professional landlords should be the ambition for Scotland.'

Shelter Scotland's Private Rented Sector Bill event [3] will focus on the future of the sector and look at options for more fundamental reform, including re-modelling landlord registration and HMO licensing and reform of the tenancy regime to encourage longer term tenancies.

Speaking at the event will be Professor Douglas Robertson, Chair of the Scottish PRS Strategy Group; Colin McCrae, Principal Housing Officer, Private Sector Services Unit, Dundee City Council; John Blackwood, Director, Scottish Association of Landlords; Douglas White, Senior Policy Advocate, Consumer Focus Scotland.                                                                          

Notes to editors

1. Shelter Scotland's response to the consultation.
2. The Scottish Government's consultation paper.
   
3. Details of Shelter Scotland's conference.
   
4. Shelter Scotland believes everyone should have a home. The charity helps 170,000 people a year across the UK fight for their rights, get back on their feet, and find and keep a home. We also tackle the root causes of Scotland’s housing crisis by campaigning for new laws, policies and solutions.
5. Spokespeople are available for interview, telephone the media office on 0844 515 2442. An ISDN line number is available for broadcast interviews.