Nicola Sturgeon confirms intention to extend eviction ban to March next year

Nicola Sturgeon confirms intention to extend eviction ban to March next year

10:08 AM, 13th August 2020, About 4 years ago 15

Text Size

Responding to a question yesterday from Patrick Harvie, MSP and Scottish Greens’ co-leader, Nicola Sturgeon confirmed tenants should not be evicted for falling into arrears due to financial difficulties caused by Covid-19 and that the ban on evictions should be extended to March 2021.

The First Minister said: “The emergency legislation which we passed through this parliament in effect halted eviction action for up to six months, so he talks about applications, but no people can be evicted.

“That emergency legislation is currently in place until September 30 and yesterday we confirmed, subject to the agreement of parliament, that it will be extended to March 2021 which I think underlines the continuing commitment of the government to do everything we can to protect tenants and also prevent people becoming homeless as a result of this pandemic.”

“We continue to work with tenant and landlord stakeholder groups to ensure that those issues are properly explored. Our clear intention is to ensure that nobody is evicted as a result of the crisis that we are living through.”

The First Minister indicated that if the Greens support the SNP plan then it would go through parliament and no-one would be evicted over the winter.

The Extension will still need to go through the Scottish Parliament, but the early announcement may suggest this is going to be a formality and has unsurprisingly been wholeheartedly welcomed by Shelter who said: “Today’s decision is a big win for tenants and for Shelter Scotland’s campaign. We want to thank our supporters who emailed their MSPs to demand action, and key organisations across Scotland who pushed for this outcome.”


Share This Article


Comments

david porter

10:32 AM, 13th August 2020, About 4 years ago

Seems to me that before long the only rental accommodation in Scotland will be social and local government.
Additionally it is unlikely that the banks will finance private buyers who are willing to rent property.

Dylan Morris

10:39 AM, 13th August 2020, About 4 years ago

So absolutely zero help being given to landlords then. Just tying our hands behind our backs until our properties are repossessed. These politicians (and I include all sides) have s@@t for brains !!

Hardworking Landlord

11:03 AM, 13th August 2020, About 4 years ago

I get the importance of helping tenants, but extending the ban on eviction to March next year means that there will be landlords with areas of well over a year by the time they get their house back. I struggle to understand why this is even possible. Is there really nothing that the various landlord associations cant do about this?

Mike

12:29 PM, 13th August 2020, About 4 years ago

Not sure if landlords need to be concerned , If there are measures in place such as the UC, for those tenants who cannot go back to work, or lost their jobs, many companies and businesses are folding up, so let UC pay their rent, then see for how long can any Government extend eviction Notices, as long as we are getting our rent, that's what matters us, we cannot keep tenants for free if that is what Gov thinks, why would Gov want us to become homeless at the expense of tenants? let the burden of housing payments fall on the Gov. As long as landlords are getting at least up to say 80% rent still better than not getting any at all for a whole year, or longer if evictions are extended, let the Gov pay Judges and Lawyers sitting ideal with furlough payments, for how long can they sustain that ? and If you have any idea what salaries Judges and Lawyers earn.....Let Gov chop its own feet......let court rooms be covered in Cob Webs......

NewYorkie

12:51 PM, 13th August 2020, About 4 years ago

Reply to the comment left by Mike at 13/08/2020 - 12:29
No public sector employees, which includes judges, were furloughed. They are all on full pay, with most still 'working' from home.

Beaver

13:52 PM, 13th August 2020, About 4 years ago

Reply to the comment left by NewYorkie at 13/08/2020 - 12:51
That's an interesting comment. Is this correct, and if so, how do you know?

My own experience of working through the lockdown, being self-employed and therefore not furloughed, is that lots of the people who were 'working from home' weren't actually working; or if they were, they weren't working a full day, or weren't working very hard.

NewYorkie

14:20 PM, 13th August 2020, About 4 years ago

Reply to the comment left by Beaver at 13/08/2020 - 13:52
I can confirm this is true. I have close relatives in local and central government.

I do agree about many of them being at home but not working. How can they when they don't have secure access to government systems from their homes? It explains why there is such pushback against returning to their desks from these 'pen-pushers' and their unions. They've got used to perpetual paid staycation while everyone in the private sector is either furloughed (if lucky!), on one of the support schemes, or not receiving anything e.g. directors of small companies! As Boris said, he expects them to set an example and get back to work. So do we!

Jaye

17:13 PM, 13th August 2020, About 4 years ago

Absolutely Ridiculous! A whole year? I have a tenant who hasn't paid rent, is collect housing benefit from Universal Credit but not passing the money over. Even the UC has refused to speak to me or my agent despite reporting this to them... No help what so EVER!

steve p

10:00 AM, 14th August 2020, About 4 years ago

Surely though your using a sledgehammer to crack a nut, there is a huge stretch implying all those with rent arrears are only in rent arrears because of Covid19.

Although I dont rent in Scotland I think its always good to keep an eye on what they are doing as their like a disease, what they do often spreads to the rest of the UK.

Hardworking Landlord

10:25 AM, 14th August 2020, About 4 years ago

Reply to the comment left by Mike at 13/08/2020 - 12:29
Well I am currently getting £300 UC for a house that is £800 per month rent. Its just not workable

1 2

Leave Comments

In order to post comments you will need to Sign In or Sign Up for a FREE Membership

or

Don't have an account? Sign Up

Landlord Tax Planning Book Now