City of Edinburgh Council has backed a motion supporting rent controls, the first to do so since the introduction of the Scottish Government's new Housing Bill.

The bill, which is currently at state one at Holyrood, would require local councils to carry out assessments on the condition of the private rental sector and make recommendations to ministers about imposing rent controls.

City of Edinburgh Council, which declared a housing emergency in November last year, passed a motion introduced by the Scottish Greens with 36 votes on Thursday in favour of such controls.

Rents in the city have increased by 88.5% in the capital over the past decade, almost twice the rate of inflation, and the wait for social housing is 24,000.

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Over the past 12 months Lothian saw one of the highest year-on-year growths in rents in the UK, with the average rising 18.4% to £1192.

Eilidh Keay, Living Rent’s Edinburgh City chair said: “This is an important sign that local councillors are committed to bringing in rent controls in Scotland’s capital. Local authorities will play an important role in implementing any future rent controls so it was vital that councillors supported the motion today.

"Rent controls can not come soon enough for Edinburgh. Rents have skyrocketed by over 80% over the last decade, forcing people to choose between staying in the places they call home or being able to afford to live.

"Last year’s rent cap did not go far enough and did not apply between tenancies. Tenants desperately need this government to introduce a robust system of rent controls tied to the property, not the tenancy, in order to protect all tenants.

"As the voice of tenants across Edinburgh and the rest of Scotland, we look forward to working with the council to ensure that Edinburgh becomes affordable for tenants once again.”

Ben Parker, Green councillor for Morningside who put forward the motion said: "Rent controls are one vital piece in the fight for everyone in Edinburgh to have access to a safe and secure home. 

"Much was said in the council meeting today about the failures of previous housing policies like the disastrous right-to-buy; but rent controls are something we know have worked in the past, and we know will help us to tackle the city’s housing emergency now. 

"For us it is absolute common sense that the council should support rent controls in recognition of the exploitation of tenants at the hands of unscrupulous landlords and the abject failure of the market to regulate itself.

"People in Edinburgh need rent controls and I’m pleased we were able to persuade others to back our motion today."