An Angus councillor and authority on housing has attacked a ”hand wringing, simplistic” report on Scotland’s eviction rates by charity Shelter Scotland.
A report has the county sitting on top of a somewhat dubious league table, as its rate of tenant evictions has gone up by 121% in the last four years.
However, while the number of tenants in the county to have their tenancies terminated after eviction was 31, Fife saw 96 up 52% and second in the table of largest increases and there were 173 in East Ayrshire (down 3%).
Even as the recession continues to bite, evictions by social landlords elsewhere in Scotland have continued to decrease, according to new analysis by Shelter Scotland (PDF link).
Angus Council’s housing spokesman Jim Millar told The Courier: ”In 2007 the council developed a new rent arrears policy in consultation with tenants. We continue to work closely with them on the application of this policy, which is one of both support and enforcement.
”I am very disappointed that Shelter chooses to be selective with statistics in order to criticise Angus Council. Their hand wringing, simplistic outlook often bears no relation to the challenges that local authorities face in providing homes, often for the most vulnerable in our communities.
”The bottom line is that the money our tenants pay in rent goes towards improving our stock, and crucially, building new, much needed homes and tenants tell us that they support our approach. Eviction is always the last resort but unfortunately at times we are left with no choice.
”I would be a lot more interested in what Shelter has to say if they used the considerable amounts of money they spend on lawyers every year to actually build social homes themselves instead of criticising others who do.”
Mr Millar added: ”I am proud of our record on housing, which will see 147 new council houses built in Angus, on top of the homes we are funding for other affordable tenures. What have Shelter built?”
While far fewer landlords in Angus have chosen to evict and terminate leases, the statistical increase is of concern to Shelter.
Mr Millar is the only councillor in Scotland to complete the PG Dip qualification in housing studies at Stirling University and is a corporate member of the Chartered Institute of Housing.