RENTERS have called for better regulation of the social housing sector in Scotland as new data shows that councils paid out nearly £28 million in 2019-20 on evictions. 

Tenants union Living Rent has published an open letter calling for a long-term strategy for regulation of the sector, including a new regulatory framework to replace the existing one, which the group says is not fit for purpose. 

The submission, which has been developed as part of the Scottish government’s consultation on its social housing charter, claims that services have deteriorated, rents have increased beyond inflation and costs have increased at a similar rate to the private-rented sector.