Bill to regulate property factors gets cross party support

Both the Herald, and the Evening Times, report that a bill to curb the power of rogue property factors and strengthen the hand of homeowners has taken a huge step forward by achieving strong cross-party support at Holyrood.

The proposed Property Factors (Scotland) Bill, introduced by the Labour MSP for Glasgow Maryhill, Patricia Ferguson, had to go out to consultation and then pass the normal first hurdle for a Member’s Bill of attracting the support of at least 18 MSPs. In fact, when the deadline passed 45 had signed up and although the bulk were fellow Labour members, the fact that 11 were from other parties indicates a broad enough consensus to suggest the Bill has a real chance of success.

Four MSPs each from the SNP and Liberal Democrats signed up, plus both the Parliament’s Green MSPs and Elizabeth Smith, the Conservative MSP. GLC's Parliamentary Unit has been engaged to draft the Bill. The Herald story is here, and the Evening Times here.