Cash for struggling tenants hailed

A £10million fund from the Scottish Government to support people struggling to pay their rent has been welcomed.

The Tenant Hardship Loan Fund will open this autumn and offer interest free loans to people who can’t get other forms of support for their housing costs.

The Discretionary Housing Payment (DHP) fund, which helps tenants in receipt of benefits, will also increase by £3m, bringing the total to £19m.

This is in addition to measures already in place to fully mitigate the so-called bedroom tax in Scotland.

The government has also extended legislation to protect private and social tenants from eviction until March next year – pending approval from Holyrood.

SNP MSP Tom Arthur for Renfrewshire South said: “Coronavirus is the biggest health crisis of our time, but as we look to rebuild our economy and regain a sense of normality, we can’t simply go back to how things were.

“We know that the pandemic has hit the lowest earners hardest - that’s why the SNP government ha has announced a range of measures designed at tac tackling inequality and sup supporting those who need it most. m

“This new £ 10m fund, cou coupled with existing housing be benefits, will mean that no on one in Renfrewshire South sho should be left in a position wh where they can’t access sup support to pay their rent.

““It’s only right that while we con continue working together to sup suppress the virus, the SNP gov government does all it can to sup support tenants during these tou tough times.”