RENTERS have called for better regulation of the social housing sector in Scotland as new data shows that councils paid out nearly £28 million in 2019-20 on evictions. 

Tenants union Living Rent has published an open letter calling for a long-term strategy for regulation of the sector, including a new regulatory framework to replace the existing one, which the group says is not fit for purpose. 

The submission, which has been developed as part of the Scottish government’s consultation on its social housing charter, claims that services have deteriorated, rents have increased beyond inflation and costs have increased at a similar rate to the private-rented sector. 

Living Rent says that regulations have been routinely ignored by social landlords with no regulatory action, made worse by the failed system of self-regulation and reporting.

The group said: “We need a long-term strategy for the regulation of the sector.

“Currently, from the perspective of tenants, the charter system is visibly failing at every level.”

Its call comes as research for Shelter Scotland shows that 1,866 socially rented homes were reclaimed in 2019-20 through evictions.

The study, carried out by Liverpool University, found that 805 households evicted from social housing in 2019-20 went on to present themselves as homeless to local authorities, down from 890 the year before.

Shelter Scotland director Alison Watson said: “We must see an end to people being evicted into homelessness, and we call on social landlords to follow best practice and find more progressive and effective answers to helping tenants manage rent arrears.”

Local authority body Cosla said that councils work with tenants to provide support and prevent evictions, urging anyone struggling to come forward.