PAY UP... OR MOVE OUT

Tenants forced to accept huge rent rises

- GEMMA RYDER

LANDLORDS are bullying tenants into accepting huge rent rises above the price cap - or face eviction, claims union Living Rent.

Private tenants have reported being pressurised into rent hikes of up to £400 by rogue property owners or face a steep rise when the cap lifts.

Many of these jumps go far higher than the three per cent rise limit set out by the Scottish Parliament.

And despite a rent freeze, a loophole allows landlords to increase rents if a tenant agrees to it.

Student Jude, 23, and bar worker Laurence, 22, say they have been threatened with eviction if they do not pay a rent rise on their Edinburgh flat.