Rent arrears for the poorest in Scotland have soared by £17million in just six months.
Campaigners believe the figures – a record – show the huge impact of the cost of living crisis, where tenants in social housing are choosing food over paying their landlord.
Many families are now walking a tightrope, risking eviction by prioritising meals, clothes and heating for their kids over paying councils and housing associations their monthly rent, allowing the crippling arrears to mount.
The figures compiled by the Scottish Housing Regulator reveal arrears rocketed from £157million to £174million in the past six months – up 11 per cent.
The number of homes recovered after court action soared from 36 to 58. That marked a rise of 61 per cent, meaning families may have been made homeless.
The rent arrears crisis means cash owed by skint tenants has soared from £137million in March 2019 to £174million today – up a shocking 27 per cent.
Sean Clerkin, of the Scottish Tenants Association, said: “This will lead to a tidal wave of homelessness and hardship not seen since the hungry 30s unless the Scottish Government implement an eviction ban.”
Scottish Labour housing spokesman Mark Griffin demanded an emergency plan to stop a “tsunami” of evictions.
Tenants’ Rights Minister Patrick Harvie said: “I’d urge tenants facing arrears to get in touch with their landlords or an advice agency to get help as early as possible.”
