Chamber and committees

I was going to ask about that. Gilly Mendes Ferreira said that her organisation had carried out a survey. What did landlords say were the problems with tenants keeping pets? Pets that behave unreasonably might stay in a fifth-floor flat or a ground-floor flat. Landlords might fear that their property will be damaged, but you say that they should consider taking out security against that happening. What barriers lead to landlords feeling that that might not work? Do they feel that pets will destroy their property and that they will not get their money back? What landlords’ views have come out of the surveys?

Good morning. The submissions from Blue Cross and the SSPCA discuss the use of the terms “reasonable” and “unreasonable” in relation to landlords’ consent to a tenant request for a pet. Is there a way in which you would like those terms to be defined in regulations and guidance to ensure that there is a balance between the rights of the landlord and those of the tenants? The question is for Becky Thwaites and then Gilly Mendes Ferreira, but if James Hickman wants to come in, that is fine.

Good morning, minister and officials. Minister, you have mentioned throughout this conversation that you have been working with and listening to stakeholders and that you have consulted the ASSC. However, Fiona Campbell from the ASSC has said that the amendment order has not been informed by stakeholder opinion, and that it “falls far short” of what is necessary to ameliorate the scheme, which is materially damaging to small accommodation providers and the wider tourism sector in Scotland. Do you agree with that assessment?

My last question rolls on from depopulation. We are very lucky that a lot of the sectors in our rural areas are growing, such as the space and energy sectors. When I spoke with council chief execs about the issue, they talked about employability and bringing in people from other countries—even from England, sometimes—to stay in rural areas. Will employability be affected by the rent controls that are set out in the bill?

Thank you. As no one else wants to comment, I will move on to my supplementary question. Depopulation is a serious issue in rural areas. I know that because I have spoken to 31 out of the 32 council chief executives and those in rural areas mentioned that depopulation is a problem. We have also heard that in committee this year, too. Do the rent control provisions in the bill risk decreasing the supply of homes in rural areas, thus discouraging population growth?

You are right that a balance has to be struck but, sometimes, three months is not enough for domestic abuse victims. I know that, with the court delays and everything else in the system, it can take more than three months for something to go through the legal process. We need to achieve that fine balance so that landlords are not out of pocket but we consider domestic abuse victims as well.

This question is for John Blackwood from the Scottish Association of Landlords. In your submission, you expressed concerns about the unintended consequences of the proposal regarding how joint tenancies can be ended when there is no mutual agreement. Could you explain your concern about that, particularly in relation to tenants who are at risk of domestic abuse? How would you like the bill to be improved?

That is important. I do a lot of work on domestic abuse, and I know that, especially when the perpetrator leaves and the victim is left with children, control comes into the question. I would like to see more consideration of that to see how we can help those victims.

Good morning. Kelly Ferns spoke about rural areas, and I want to develop that. We heard from the previous panel that the bill does not sufficiently address the needs of rural areas. Do you believe that the bill properly balances the needs of urban and rural areas? That question is for Kelly Ferns and Ally Macleod.

You might have heard the question that I asked the first panel about depopulation. I spoke to the chief executive officers of Argyll and Bute Council and Aberdeenshire Council, and I know that depopulation is a problem in your areas. Do you think that the rent control provisions in the bill will affect depopulation? From your work in this area, you will know about the situation in your areas as regards population growth. In addition, how will the rent control provisions affect business growth?

I go back to my first question: do you think that the bill properly balances the needs of urban and rural areas?