0 Comments | Herald, The; Glasgow (UK), Feb 13, 2010
The Home Owner and Debtor Protection Bill just passed by the Scottish Parliament is designed to make it more difficult for houses to be repossessed when owners have mortgage arrears. I would like to know what legislation is being considered to protect social rented tenants from being evicted for rent arrears. Shelter Scotland revealed recently that social landlords evicted 3297 tenants last year, nearly all for rent arrears.
Last June, Stirling Council became the first authority in the UK to stop evicting tenants for rent arrears. A number of alternatives have been put in place, resulting in a drop in the number of tenants with arrears. The overall amount of rent arrears has increased by pound(s)80,000. Against a total cost of pound(s)154,000 for the 23 evictions carried out in 2008, there was a net saving of pound(s)74,000. Stirling Council has proven that evictions are an expensive way to deal with rent arrears.
Evictions also have a devastating impact on children and families. I would like to ask MSPs to put in place an extra safeguard which protects social rented tenants from being evicted for rent arrears. The time has come to bring to an end to the draconian and dehumanising practice of throwing tenants out for rent arrears
stop repossession