First Minister urged to back ban on renter evictions for first 12 months of a tenancy
Scottish Green MSP Maggie Chapman has urged the First Minister to back her plans to ensure renters cannot be evicted for at least the first 12 months of their tenancy.
Speaking at First Minister’s Questions, Maggie urged the government to support her amendments to the Housing Bill, which would ensure that landlords would need to wait for at least a year before evicting tenants so that they can sell the property, or move themselves or their family in.
Under Maggie’s proposals, renters would also get a longer notice period of 4 months. Currently, renters have between 1 and 3 months’ notice, depending on how long they have lived in the property.
In her question to the First Minister, Maggie said:
“A renter moving into their new home today will have no clear sense of how long they can stay before they could be kicked out by their landlord.
“They may have as little as 4 weeks notice. And a maximum of 3 months.
“Sarah, James and their two children were evicted from their home in Inverness.
“They were unable to find a suitable home in their 3 months notice. A family of four forced into a cramped 1-bedroom flat. It was so much smaller than what they needed.
“Renters in England will soon be protected from eviction on the most common grounds for the first 12 months of their tenancy and get a longer notice period. But that right does not currently exist in Scotland.
“With the Housing Bill next week, we can fix this. So, will the First Minister commit to supporting Green amendments that ensure Scotland does not fall behind, and improve protections from eviction for Scots renters?”