Scotland’s Deputy First Minister has urged Perth to back a campaign for reform of the country’s private rented sector.
Perthshire North MSP John Swinney was in the city’s High Street on Monday to add his name to Shelter Scotland’s Make Renting Right campaign.
The housing charity is aiming to raise awareness of and build public support for reforming the private tenancy rules, which they believe are now outdated.
Shelter says people are being moved on, evicted or having their rents increased unreasonably, forcing them into the disruptive cycle of having to move house regularly.
Mr Swinney said: “There is obviously a large private rented sector in Perth and Perthshire and a large number of people using the private rented sector.
“We need to make sure that there is the appropriate quality and support in place for individuals to meet their housing circumstances.”
The private rented sector is now home to 312,000 families and individuals, with more than 80,000 private lets housing families with children.
Shelter Scotland says the sector’s tenancy regime is not suited to providing a safe and secure environment to allow people to put down stable foundations in their communities.
Director of the charity, Graeme Brown, said: “We want to see a private rented sector in Perth and across Scotland that is fit for families and protects all tenants a sector that provides long-term homes, not short-term housing.
“Short-term tenancy agreements do not provide the stability and security that the more than 80,000 families with children living in the private rented sector need in order to live a settled life.”