Voluntary guidelines on eviction not enough to keep people in their homes, Shelter Scotland research finds
11 May 2010
In its response to a Scottish Government consultation on reducing evictions (1), Shelter Scotland today (Tuesday) warned voluntary guidelines instead of legal rights will leave tenants more vulnerable to losing their homes than homeowners.
The consultation on tackling evictions comes at a time when the housing charity has found tenants are more likely to lose their homes than homeowners (2) and voluntary guidelines, south of the border, are failing to stop struggling families being turfed out of their homes (3).
The charity says legislative steps are needed to give tenants equal protection to that already put in place by the Scottish Government for homeowners (4).
Graeme Brown, Director of Shelter Scotland, today called on the Scottish Government to protect tenants and introduce legislative steps that landlords must take to help keep tenants in their homes.
He said: “We know the majority of the 3,300 evictions in Scotland last year were for rent arrears and the eviction process can be costly. In Stirling, for example, evicting 23 tenants last year cost the council more than three times as much as the rent arrears owed. Legal rights to reduce eviction are the right thing for tenants, the right thing for social landlords and the right thing for council taxpayers across Scotland.
“Only by requiring local authorities to demonstrate that they have taken every available step to prevent families becoming homeless, can we avoid the ludicrous situation where tenants are evicted only for them to have to be re-housed at great expense by the same local authority.
He added: “Putting in place a legal framework of Pre-Action Requirements is the only option that will give tenants the same protection from losing their homes as homeowners now enjoy. The alternative - voluntary protocol – may be easier for landlords but is not in the long term interests of tenants or taxpayers.” (5)
Anyone struggling with the cost of their rent or with any other housing problem should go to www.shelter.org.uk or call our free housing advice line on 0808 800 4444.
Notes to Editors:
- The Scottish Government consultation on Eviction of Tenants in the Social Rented Sector can be viewed here.
- Eviction by social landlords in Scotland 2008-09, Shelter Scotland, December 2009. Read the report here.
- The research showed a third of lenders in England refused to follow voluntary guidelines set to protect homeowners from repossession and no action was taken against lenders who did not adhere to the guidance. Turning the tide? Evidence from the free advice sector on mortgage and secured loan possession actions in England (July 2009). Click here to read the report.
- Shelter Scotland’s response to the Scottish Government consultation can be read here.
- The Pre-Action Protocol outlined in the Scottish Government consultation would introduce a set of guidelines to try and avoid eviction of tenants which landlords would adhere to voluntarily. In contrast, Pre-Action Requirements (PARs) would mean a series of steps set out in legislation which would have to be followed by landlords before taking a tenant to court.
- Shelter Scotland believes everyone should have a home. The charity helps 170,000 people a year across the UK fight for their rights, get back on their feet, and find and keep a home. We also tackle the root causes of Scotland’s housing crisis by campaigning for new laws, policies and solutions.
