Council to debate evictions ban

Alasdair MacPherson said the evictions were "draconian" Why are eviction rates so high?

Stirling Council is to consider banning the practice of evicting tenants who fall behind in rent payments.

The authority's housing convener, Alasdair MacPherson, has put forward a motion attacking the policy and calling for an alternative to be put in place.

Recent figures show the council evicted 23 such tenants in 2008.

If passed, the motion would see Stirling become the first local authority in Scotland to ban evictions for rent arrears.

Mr MacPherson and his SNP colleague Jim Thomson described the current practice as "draconian" and said it was an "attack on the poor", particularly in the current economic climate.

'Last resort'

The pair said in the motion: "Council resolves to end evicting tenants for rent arrears, with immediate effect.

"Council also instructs the head of housing to write to local housing associations encouraging them also to stop this practice."

The move follows a Shelter Scotland report published in December, which was highly critical of the policy which has been pursued by councils across Scotland.

According to the charity, 3,573 tenants were evicted by social landlords in 2007-2008.

Graeme Brown, director of Shelter Scotland, said: "We hope that other local authorities will look to Stirling and move towards a presumption against eviction except as a last resort."

Councillors in Stirling will vote on the motion at full meeting of the council on Thursday night.