23 June, 2021 Open access
23 June, 2021 Open access
Deputy First Minister confirms new grant fund will open later in the year, and that the government will work with stakeholders over the coming weeks to develop the details
The Scottish Government has announced a new £10 million grant fund to support tenants who have fallen into rent arrears as a result of the Covid-19 pandemic.
In the Stage 1 debate in Holyrood yesterday on the Coronavirus (Extension and Expiry) (Scotland) Bill - that will temporarily extend measures introduced under the Scottish Coronavirus Acts for a six month period beyond 30 September 2021 - Deputy First Minister John Swinney confirmed that, once enacted, the Bill will ensure that the increased notice period of six months to protect private and social sector tenants from eviction will continue along with other measures under the Coronavirus Acts.
In addition, Mr Swinney announced a new £10 million grant fund to support tenants who have fallen into rent arrears as a direct result of the pandemic -
'We will work towards making the grant fund available later in the year, and we will work with stakeholders over the coming weeks to develop the details. We will deliver a new national awareness-raising campaign to ensure that all tenants are aware of their rights. Those crucially important interventions will help tenants and landlords to move towards a sustainable and fair recovery from the impact of the coronavirus.’
NB - the Scottish Government currently operates a Tenant Hardship Loan Fund designed to help people who have had their finances or employment impacted by Covid-19 and who don't have other means of housing support.
The Stage 1 debate on the Coronavirus (Extension and Expiry) (Sctoland) Bill is available from parliament.scot
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