Proposed legislation to tackle rogue property factors and to introduce a new dispute resolution process between factors and their clients has been introduced at Holyrood to a round of support from across the political divide.

Labour MSP Patricia Ferguson has carried the legislation forward from the last parliamentary session after her colleague Gordon Jackson, who had originally proposed the bill, lost his Govan seat to the SNP. Cross party support for the move was evident at Holyrood today as MSPs stepped forward to sign their support for the legislation.

In lending his support, the SNP's Bob Doris said: "Rogue factors are a scourge on our city and I don't think anyone would be sorry to see the back of rogue operators. As always with these measures, legitimate companies will have nothing to fear.

"Quick buck operators who abuse their position and do nothing for their clients will have everything to fear."

The SNP's Home Owner and Debtor Protection Bill was approved by Parliament only two weeks ago. It will offer homeowners real protection against unscrupulous mortgage lenders as never before. There will also be a further two housing related Bills before the end of the current parliamentary session.

Mr Doris added: "2010 is proving to be a year for a long overdue overhaul of tenant and homeowner protection. The SNP Government has just passed the Home Owner and Debtor Protection Bill, scrutiny is beginning on a new Housing Bill and we are looking forward to working on a third, the Private Housing Bill later in the year.

"This members bill slots in well to the wider work being carried out by the Scottish Government around housing. There may be the possibility of the Scottish Government incorporating much of the content of the Property Factors Bill into its own legislation during the current parliamentary session.

"However I am pleased to offer my support in allowing this bill to move forward in Parliament and to afford it some constructive scrutiny. As the bill passes through Parliament the finer detail will have to be thoroughly scrutinised if the legislation is to be successful.

"How the proposals will work technically under the constraints of limited devolution powers remains to be seen. Regulating professions is something usually reserved to Westminster and as with every issue at Holyrood we are limited in what we can achieve, being that we lack the powers of a fully sovereign parliament."