SCOTLAND’s tenants’ union has launched a charter to end evictions resulting from rent arrears caused by the controversial Universal Credit (UC) benefits programme.
Living Rent, which represents hundreds of tenants across Glasgow, has asked housing associations (HAs) in the city to commit to not carrying out evictions caused by complications with the benefit.
Their charter has been backed by Shelter Scotland and Glasgow South West SNP MP Chris Stephens.
They view UC as a threat to people’s right to decent and affordable housing and claim it is a failed system that puts tenants under threat of eviction and homelessness, as many are pushed into debt and rent arrears while waiting for their first payment.
READ MORE: SNP demand halt to Universal Credit rollout amid £500m cost hike
Rory John, a Living Rent member and UC claimant, said: “UC is meant to be a safety net, but what sort of net doesn’t allow me to save for a rental deposit.
“I had to sleep on my friend’s sofa for two weeks. It’s no safety net when I don’t have enough money to send my brother a birthday card.
“Although my job coach was as helpful as possible, he couldn’t do anything to change the minuscule amount I got due to not having a tenancy agreement.”
The charter follows November’s launch of Living Rent’s No UC Evictions campaign, indicating to HAs that they had a duty to protect their tenants from a flawed benefits system.
In response, Glasgow Housing Association (GHA), said they “wouldn’t evict people who are in arrears as a result of the design of Universal Credit”.
Stephens, who has been a vocal critic of UC, said: “Our Social Security system is supposed to be a safety net, however too many of fellow Glaswegians are struggling to maintain the basics of a home due to the Universal Credit system.
“I am pleased to support the charter, and in parallel, I have launched a Bill to enshrine a no evictions policy due to Universal Credit into law. For people to get into rent arrears due to waiting on their state entitlement is a disgrace and the Government should have a duty placed on them to ensure no one is evicted due to Universal Credit."
Shelter Scotland director, Graeme Brown, above, said: “Eviction is an ineffective, costly and time-consuming way for social landlords to deal with rent arrears whatever the cause, but even harder to understand when transition to Universal Credit was the trigger.”
Living Rent campaign lead, Jennifer Baird, added: “Living Rent is encouraged to have such important figures such as Chris Stephens and Shelter Scotland supporting the charter. It sets a precedent that meaningful public commitment is needed in order to stop the worst effects of UC.”
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