Welsh nationalists have called for a rent freeze and eviction ban to emulate that happening now in Scotland.

Plaid Cymru, the party of Welsh nationalists, says the Labour-led Welsh government is dragging its heels on the issue of rent controls.

Plaid Cymru’s housing spokesperson, Mabon ap Gwynfor MS, has accused the Welsh Government of being behind the Scottish Government on the issue. 

In response the Labour minister responsible for housing, Julie James, confirmed she was looking at options and was “actively in contact” with the Scottish Government, however, had not yet reviewed its research.

The announcement from the Scottish Government to freeze rents and ban evictions came on September 6 and are set to remain in place until the end of next March at least, with a possible extension of up to a year beyond that date.

Plaid Cymru’s spokesperson on housing and planning Mabon ap Gwynfor MS says: “The Labour Welsh Government is fiddling while Wales freezes. There’s no sense of urgency, and in the meantime, the cold fingers of winter creep ever closer.

“That work should have been commissioned and completed as soon as possible, and yet we find out that the Welsh Government are still at the stage of gathering evidence.

“Plaid Cymru saw this coming down the tracks and have repeated our calls at every opportunity. Numerous anti-poverty campaigners and charities, including Shelter Cymru have been calling for this. Scottish Government clearly did their work. Meanwhile the Labour Welsh Government has been dragging its heels.

“Time is very short, and Welsh Government urgently need to set out their timetable for when action could be taken, because winter will be on us before we know it.”

In Scotland the Cost of Living (Tenant Protection) Bill gives ministers temporary power to cap rents for private and social tenants, as well as for student accommodation. 

The Bill also introduces a moratorium on evictions.

The vote in the Scottish Parliamentast evening was 89 to 27 – there was widespread expectation that the measure would be passed.

This cap, which applies to in-tenancy rent increases, has initially been set at 0 per cent from until at least March 31 2023. Ministers have the power to vary the rent cap while it is in force. 

The measures can be extended over two further six-month periods.

Evictions are banned over the same period except in a number of specified circumstances, and damages for unlawful evictions have been increased to a maximum of 36 months’ worth of rent.