Over 20 groups in Edinburgh have signed an open letter calling for the council to get tougher with rogue landlords.
The letter was sent to the City of Edinburgh Council leader Jane Meagher by the Leith branch of Living Rent, a Scottish tenants’ union that campaigns for tenant rights.
Eleanor Sanders White, Living Rent Leith campaign officer, said: “We have heard so many heartbreaking stories from people across the city, barely able to keep their heads above water, and being forced to live in slum-like conditions.
“We have found tenants facing illegal rent increases, living in states of chronic disrepair, mould and damp, threatened by their landlords, having their privacy invaded, and being illegally evicted.
“Everyone should have a safe, warm and affordable home, yet many do not, and the council is failing to do anything about it.”
They claim that since 2017 the council has only referred two out of 3,600 complaints to the procurator fiscal, a public prosecutor in Scotland.
Unions that signed the letter include Unite, UCU, and EIS charities, including Shelter Scotland, Scottish Trans, and the Community One Stop Shop community groups, like the Leith Links and Southside Community Councils and St James’ Episcopal Church.
Eleanor Sanders White added: “Edinburgh Council already has a range of enforcement powers that they could be using to crack down on landlords who break the law.
“They could be protecting tenants, and also generate money for the council to do more, yet this routinely fails to happen.
“The most vulnerable tenants are suffering due to this lack of enforcement and regulation; it is their health and wellbeing that is taking a beating.
“The impacts of this are being seen across the third sector, which is why today so many different organisations have signed our open letter calling on the council to use their powers and act.
“Stop letting rogue landlords off the hook.”