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Scottish First Minister lets slip that evictions ban will be extended

Nicola Sturgeon has revealed her intentions inadvertently during a meeting, but will England, Wales and Northern Ireland now follow suit?

Nigel Lewis

evictions

Scotland’s First Minister Nicola Sturgeon has let slip that her government intends to extend the current evictions ban in place until the end of March, lengthening it by a further six months.

Landlords and tenant groups in Scotland’s private and social housing sectors are currently working on proposals to extend the evictions ban, but these are still in progress.

Sturgeon therefore appears to have jumped the gun during her off-the-cuff remarks made at a meeting yesterday.

But her government cannot force the evictions ban extension through, landlords have pointed out – highlighting how it is the Scottish parliament which will get the final say on whether it does continue through to March.

Shelter have jumped on Sturgeon’s remarks. Its Scotland Director Alison Watson says: “This will give breathing space to thousands of people who’ve been hit hard by this pandemic, so they have a fair chance to deal with the work and money problems that have been forced on them.

Big win

“Today’s decision is a big win for tenants and for Shelter Scotland’s campaign. We want to thank our supporters who emailed their MSPs to demand action, and key organisations across Scotland who pushed for this outcome.”

Shelter has reason to celebrate; several figures within Scotland told The Negotiator that a ban is likely as the Covid economic clouds gather, even though the consultation is not yet over.

And it will make many landlords and letting agents in England, Wales and Norther Ireland uneasy, their government’s are considering similar extensions as campaign groups such as Shelter, Acorn and other renters’ unions pile on the political pressure.

 

August 13, 2020

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