Question reference: S5W-29746
- Asked by: Andy Wightman, MSP for Lothian, Scottish Green Party
- Date lodged: 8 June 2020
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Current status: Answered by Kevin Stewart on 15 June 2020
Question
To ask the Scottish Government what communications it has had with tenants and tenant organisations that relate to publicising the extension of notice periods for eviction notices from three to six months under the Coronavirus (Scotland) Act 2020.
Answer
To raise awareness of the extended notice to leave and notice of proceedings periods under the Coronavirus (Scotland) Act 2020, the Scottish Government launched a successful eviction rights marketing campaign on 7th April, which reached an estimated 75% of all renters in Scotland. The campaign directed renters to sector specific information on their new rights and the support available to tenants experiencing difficulties paying their rent.
In addition, information was disseminated through stakeholder networks including members of our PRS and Social Rented Sector Resilience Groups. This includes Shelter Scotland and Citizen Advice Scotland, ALACHO Cosla, GWSF and SFHA. We are continuing to work with the Resilience Groups to support and inform our approach to awareness raising and we are in the early stages of working with Public Health Scotland to develop a tenants support toolkit, which would include tenants' rights under the emergency notice periods as well as wider information and advice.