Andy Wightman calls for winter eviction ban
There should be a complete ban on people being evicted from their homes this winter, Scottish Greens housing spokesperson Andy Wightman has said.
The call comes after Housing Minister Kevin Stewart admitted that private sector tenants can still be evicted this winter, despite assurances from him and the First Minister.
At FMQS, Nicola Sturgeon said the intention of emergency laws was that no one should be evicted as a result of the COVID crisis, but at Local Government committee on Friday Mr Stewart admitted that those being served eviction notices now would just “have a longer time to plan” for alternative accommodation.
Andy Wightman said: “It is clear the emergency legislation will not provide the protection for vulnerable tenants the Scottish Government says it will. Despite the claims no one will face eviction, the reality is people are being served eviction notices now, and face losing their homes this winter.
“It is unacceptable that these laws provided much more reassurances to landlords then they did to tenants, and simply extending them to March is not enough. As the economic fallout of this public health crisis hits the most vulnerable people, we need to see a firm guarantee there will be no evictions this winter.
“The Scottish Government should also look again at my proposals for a two-year rent freeze and a ban on evictions due to arrears arising from this crisis. These would embed the human right to a home during this crisis.”