7. Plaid Cymru Debate: The private rental sector

Part of the debate – in the Senedd at 5:47 pm on 12 October 2022.

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Photo of Carolyn Thomas Carolyn Thomas Labour 5:47, 12 October 2022

I've just—sorry, I don't know where I'm up to you, now. I have just read that the Scottish Government's rent freeze has lots of exceptions for private landlords, where a landlord faces increased property costs, mortgage interest payments and some insurance costs, so they do have exceptions, and they're not included in that rent freeze. We need to ensure that there is targeted help for those struggling tenants who are earning enough to cover rent but are entitled to benefits.

I welcome the funding to allow councils and housing associations to purchase private rental properties as they come on the market to help secure tenancies, save evictions and move properties into the social housing market, which is what we need. There are approximately 25,000 empty properties in Wales. Often, one of the reasons given by owners of empty properties for keeping them is that they are waiting for the property markets to improve before selling. Because of the lack of supply of housing, owners know that, if they hold on to a property long enough, it's likely to increase in value. People now will probably realise that their asset will depreciate because of what's happening with the economic status and put them on the market, hopefully.