Rise in demand for guidance on illegal evictions in Scotland

Demand for advice around illegal eviction in the PRS soars by 42% in a year, according to new data.

Citizens Advice Scotland reveals that overall demand for advice in private sector rents has increased by 15%.

Last week the Scottish Parliament passed a final extension to the Cost of Living (Tenant Protection) Act, meaning a cap on private sector rents and eviction protections will be in place until March 2024 at the latest.

Tenants struggling to find affordable accommodation

Citizens Advice Scotland, Social Justice spokesperson, Aoife Deery says the charity welcomes the extension of the Cost of Living Act.

She said: “The extension passed by the Scottish Parliament last week is welcome. Better protections and a fairer deal for tenants is something we all want to see, but it is crucial we learn from the implementation of this legislation to deliver long-lasting reform.

“We know from our evidence that the cost-of-living crisis is far from over, and we also know that this legislation hasn’t had the intended impact for everyone.”

Ms Deerey added the charity has heard from tenants struggling to find affordable accommodation in Scotland.

“We’ve seen tenants having their rent increased by far more than the cap, and tenants being evicted illegally.

“This is against a backdrop of average rents rising steeply in many areas of Scotland, making it difficult for people to find alternative, affordable accommodation.”

Tenants and landlords must be more aware of their rights and responsibilities

Ms Deerey continued that landlords need to be up-to-date with the latest legislation.

“New rights for tenants are only as strong as their knowledge of them and their ability to exercise them in the first place.  Otherwise people are at risk of being taken advantage of by rogue landlords.

“Likewise, good landlords who are trying to give their tenants a fair deal may fall foul of legislation simply through not knowing their responsibilities.

“What is critical now is using evidence from this period to develop a fairer rented sector with clear rules. Tenants and landlords must be more aware of their rights and responsibilities so they can easily access and are confident to access redress when things go wrong.”