Landlords urge MSPs to think again before landmark eviction vote

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Landlord and housing groups have made an 11^th hour appeal to the Scottish Parliament to ditch potentially devastating new eviction laws.

It is due to debate the final stage of the Coronavirus (Recovery and Reform) Bill tomorrow (28^th June) which includes plans to give tribunals the final say on tenant evictions in Scotland. All eviction grounds would become discretionary, including non-payment of rent, and would also require the First-tier Tribunal to consider whether landlords had complied with a pre-action protocol for rent arrears eviction cases.

Shatter confidence

Organisations which represent landlords believe the measure will shatter confidence in the rental sector and lead to large numbers of homes being withdrawn from the market. For those landlords who want to sell their rental property – either to fund retirement or to free up capital – not being able to end the tenancy will significantly reduce its value. They estimate up to one in five landlords could withdraw from the market as a result.

The Scottish Association of Landlords, NFUS Scotland, the National Trust for Scotland and Scottish Land & Estates have warned that although the proposals aim to offer greater protection to a very small number of tenants facing eviction, they will backfire on a far greater number of people looking to rent homes.

Real danger

John Blackwood, chief executive of the Scottish Association of Landlords, says: “There is a tried and tested eviction process which already works well and protects tenants and landlords. There is a very real danger that if this goes ahead landlords will lose confidence and simply sell homes at a time when they are in great need.”

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