Coronavirus: Social Security Asks

The proportion of households in the Private Rented Sector in Scotland has grown over the past ten years, from 5% of households (120,000) in 1999, to 14% (340,000) in 20181 . Measures need to be put in place to protect these renters from losing their homes should their incomes become affected by the coronavirus pandemic. The current emergency is causing high levels of uncertainty and fear for people all over Scotland, and for people that rent this uncertainty extend to the security of their home. Many households are experiencing loss of work and/or earnings and are turning to the social security safety net for support. This can be evidenced by the fact there has been nearly a million new applications for Universal Credit in the last two weeks.