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Scotland Protects Tenants in Rent Arrears
This article is an external press release originally published on the Landlord News website, which has now been migrated to the Just Landlords blog.
Scotland Protects Tenants in Rent Arrears
Scotland has introduced measures that will protect social housing tenants from being evicted if they fall into arrears.
The Scottish Government has amended the Housing Scotland Act 2010, making it more challenging for social landlords to evict tenants on the basis of late or non-payment of rent. The new rules will come into force this month.
Eviction will still be a choice for landlords; however, the Government wants landlords to work alongside tenants before attempting to evict them. They must enforce a realistic payment plan for tenants to aid them with clearing the arrears. They will also be required to ensure tenants receive advice on housing benefits.
The laws also support tenants who have already been given an eviction order, to agree a payment plan with their landlord.
The measures arrive due to just 12% of eviction cases taken to court by landlords in Scotland resulting in evictions.1 If tenants and their landlords can settle on an appropriate payment plan before going to court, then time and money could be saved.
Head of Policy at the Scottish Federation of Housing Associates, Andy Young, says: “Evictions are only ever used as a last resort.” He also says that his members have already worked to avoid them.1
Alan McIntosh, of insolvency service firm Carrington Dean, met the amendments with positivity, saying that it should prevent landlords “holding decrees like Swords of Damocles over the heads of tenants.” He adds that while the law may not reduce evictions, it should encourage good practise.1
1 http://www.propertytribes.com/scotland-protects-tenants-in-arrears-t-6181.html
