SCOTLAND faces a “looming crisis” of people being evicted from their homes after the evictions ban introduced during lockdown is lifted, Scottish Labour said today.

Regulations against evictions in Scotland were introduced for areas worst-hit by the lockdown as workers were forced to stay at home and lost wages.

The Scottish government eased the ban in May, and from May to June evictions increased by more than 500 per cent — from six in the first quarter of the year to 38.

In June the Scottish government lifted the ban altogether, including in Glasgow.

Scottish Labour housing spokesman Mark Griffin said: “These are the first signs of the looming crisis we all feared would follow the end of the evictions ban.

“The total lack of long-term planning from the government has created a ticking time-bomb of evictions, which saw rates spiral instantly in the weeks after the ban was lifted.”

He accused the Scottish government of being “unimaginably reckless” and said that the resultant increase in homelessness would be “a national scandal.”

“It is those who are already struggling that will pay the price,” he said, calling for support for tenants with rent arrears “to avoid a tidal wave of evictions.”

A Scottish government spokeswoman said: “We are doing all we can to support tenants who are struggling as a result of the pandemic, with total support for tenants during the pandemic at almost £39 million, including a £10 million grant fund to help tenants who have fallen into arrears.”

Scottish Labour said tenants faced “waiting months” for grants.