Charity Citizens Advice Scotland has called for a ban on rogue landlords who illegally evict tenants.
It comes after a mum and her two young children returned home to find the locks changed and all their belongings thrown on to the street.
CAS said the unregistered landlord, who hadn’t held the tenant’s security payment, let himself in to the property while she was out.
Last month, the Scottish Government announced that a rent cap and a ban on evictions would remain until this September.
But evictions listed with the First-Tier Tribunal have rocketed. Figures show 224 cases have been lodged from both private and social landlords.
Before the eviction ban was announced, there were 102 cases listed. The Record recently reported that some landlords are bullying tenants into accepting huge rent rises above the price cap – or face eviction.
CAS’s Aoife Deery said: “Good landlords are critical to developing a more robust and fair private rented sector, but bad landlords who engage in harassment or illegal eviction cast a shadow over the whole sector.Mandatory training and tougher penalties like bans or fines for rogue landlords should be considered as part of any forthcoming Housing Bill.”
Patrick Harvie, minister for tenants’ rights, said: “Our emergency legislation last autumn strengthened protection against eviction and introduced further penalties for landlords who evict illegally.
“We’re working to strengthen tenants’ rights further and intend to bring forward a Housing Bill as soon as possible after the summer recess.”
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