A HOLYROOD committee has heard that Scotland’s rented sector needs serious reform during a discussion on legislation which would put limits on landlords’ powers.

Parliament’s local-government committee was told yesterday that some landlords have behaved “disgracefully” during the pandemic, hiking up rents and refusing to carry out repairs on properties.

During an evidence session on Labour MSP Pauline McNeill’s proposed Fair Rents (Scotland) Bill, MSPs heard that rent controls must be part of the national recovery from the pandemic.