5 August, 2021
Open access
Extension of Covid-19 eviction and bankruptcy protections in Scotland to 31 March 2022
Coronavirus (Extension and Expiry) (Scotland) Act 2021 receives Royal Assent
Provision for extending Covid-19 eviction and bankruptcy protections in Scotland has been made with the Coronavirus (Extension and Expiry) (Scotland) Act 2021 having received Royal Assent.
The new Act, that was voted through the Scottish Parliament in June 2021, provides for the extension from 30 September 2021 to 31 March 2022 of provisions including -
- an increased notice period of six months to protect private and social sector tenants from eviction, up from the pre-pandemic 28-day notice period; and
- an increase in the minimum debt level that an individual must owe before a creditor can make them bankrupt to £10,000, up from £3,000 pre-pandemic.
Provision for hearings across courts and tribunals to be held remotely is also extended by six months to 31 March 2022.
In addition, the new Act provides -
- at section 2, for the expiry of provisions at the end of 30 September 2021 relating to 'social security: period for re-determination of entitlement' at paragraphs 1 and 5 of schedule 7 of the Coronavirus (Scotland) Act 2020; and to carer’s allowance supplement at paragraph 6 of schedule 1 of the Coronavirus (Scotland) (No.2) Act 2020;
- at section 5, for the Scottish Ministers to have to lay before the Scottish Parliament no later than one month after the day of Royal Assent a report that includes their view of the effect of the new Act on social security support available for carers; and the support available to persons who are required to self-isolate for a reason relating to coronavirus; and
- at section 6, for provisions in relation to reporting on the status of eviction provisions; and at section 7 in relation to reporting on the effect of the new Act on social care services.
The Coronavirus (Extension and Expiry) (Scotland) Act 2021 is available from legislation.gov.uk
NB - for more information on the social security measures in the Act, see Expiry of coronavirus-related social security provisions in Scotland from 30 September 2021.
