MSP called to reduce the number of second homes in Fife

Mark Ruskell, the Scottish Green MSP for Mid Scotland and Fife, believes that increasing taxes on second homes is essential to address the housing crisis in the area.

According to the latest Scottish Government data, second homes and short-term lets account for more than 2 per cent of all housing in Fife, surpassing the national average of 1.8 per cent.

This comes amid a housing emergency across Scotland, with more than 10,000 children in temporary accommodation.

Mr Ruskell said: "Scotland is in a housing crisis.

"Everyone in Parliament agrees on this, but it’s only the Scottish Greens delivering the changes needed to tackle it.

"The fact that we have over 4,000 second homes and short-term lets in Fife is a major reason why this crisis is so much worse locally.

"Wealthy people buying up properties they won’t live in are pushing out young families in particular."

The Scottish Greens have already taken steps to curb the proliferation of holiday homes and short-term lets, including doubling the tax on home purchases for these purposes and empowering councils to double council tax on such properties.

Mr Ruskell added: "The current Housing Bill is a watershed moment in the Scottish Parliament.

"However, it must go further to tackle the vast inequality gap that we see between the rich and the vulnerable in Fife.

"The Scottish Government must listen to us and act boldly to stop the hollowing out of our communities."