Private rents soar

Many Scots have been priced out the private rental market with social housing now their only option, new figures show.

Even with financial support with rent, cities like Edinburgh have become no go areas for private renters receiving financial help.

Almost half a million Scottish households receive some form of financial support for their housing. The local housing allowance (LHA) is meant to ensure that Scots on benefits could afford the cheapest 30% of local properties.

But the Scottish Government’s latest Annual Report on Welfare Reform, which focuses on housing, shows that fewer than 5% one bedroom private rented properties in the Lothians would be available to this demographic.

It would mean tenants on benefits would have to find an extra £24 a week on average to afford the cheapest property in the Lothians.

Glasgow is next in terms of least affordable which sees tenants facing a £11.50 shortfall for the cheapest 30% of one-bedroom places.

Graeme Brown, director of Shelter Scotland, said: “Although shocking, this report’s findings come as no surprise to Shelter Scotland. Our frontline advisors deal with many of these issues day-in, day-out. Last year nearly half of the 21,000 people who came to us for help were private renters - far too many were struggling to afford to keep a roof over their head.

“Scotland faces a major crisis with housing-related poverty – where those on the lowest incomes are spending an increasingly higher percentage of their earnings on housing costs like rent and utility bills and they often need help to make ends meet.”

The Scottish Government blames welfare cuts for the “devastating” impact on Scots who rent their homes, with many being pushed into “crisis and debt” by the changes.

Housing minister Kevin Stewart said: “It is clear that UK government welfare cuts are having a devastating impact, with money taken from the pockets of people across the country, pushing them into crisis and debt.”