Plans for ‘winter break’ on Scottish forced evictions

Campaigners form human chain outside Serco in solidarity with asylum seekers in Glasgow. Picture: John Devlin

NUS Scotland has given its support to a campaign by Living Rent tenants’ union in a move to prevent winter deaths on Scottish streets.

The campaign urges the Scottish Government to create a law so people cannot be evicted from their homes during the winter months.

A similar scheme, treve hivernale, was implemented in France in 1956, specifying evictions cannot be made from a rented property between 31 October and 31 March.

The law also legislates against people from having their power supply cut off.

More than 5,000 people sleep rough in Scotland throughout the year, according to figures from Shelter Scotland.

NUS Scotland vice-president (Communities) Elena Semple said: “The Living Rent tenants’ union has been incredibly successful in empowering tenants across Scotland on their housing rights.

“Like NUS Scotland, they use collective power of members to come together to fight for their rights as tenants.

“As Scotland’s largest student organisation, we are proud to join and support their calls for an end to winter deaths on Scotland’s streets.”

She added: “Often at the behest of unscrupulous, rogue landlords, students are tenants at most risk as they are vulnerable to those who seek to make a quick profit on the lack of affordable rented accommodation.

“As temperatures plummet over the winter months, rough sleeping and homelessness numbers continue to rise - a situation that is entirely avoidable.

“NUS Scotland are delighted to join and support the campaign to introduce a winter break on housing evictions during the winter months.

“We are calling on the Scottish Government to engage in the campaign, ensuring everyone across the country has access to safe, secure and warm accommodation this winter.”

David Hanson, from the Living Rent Tenants’ Union, said: “As homelessness rises in Scotland, the threat of eviction in the midst of another brutally cold winter continues to be unacceptable, with almost 100 people alone dying while homeless last year.

“As a student member in Glasgow it is great to see the NUS in Scotland come out with such a strong statement in support of the campaign.

“With increasing support from NUS and other union bodies we hope this can only further encourage the Scottish Government to implement a winter break to all evictions to tackle one of the root causes of homelessness and ensure that tenants are safe through the winter months.”