Living Rent also demanded a pause on evictions during the coronavirus outbreak.
The Scottish Government is looking into protecting renters from the financial impacts of coronavirus following an appeal from tenant’s union Living Rent.
The union is calling for all tenants affected by the virus to be given a “rent holiday”, with a pause on rent collections for those unable to work or in self-isolation.
It also wants to see evictions in both the private and social sector paused while the pandemic is ongoing.
In a statement, the union said: “We know that tenants will be the hardest hit by isolation measures: we often have less financial security, less ability to take time off and less financial support from the government to get help with high housing costs or to be protected from evictions.”
The statement continued: “While bankers, landlords and mortgaged home owners are being supported, the silence of the government regarding tenants and their needs is shocking.
“We are all in this together… if we're serious about containing the spread of the virus, tenants need to know that they won't face destitution for doing the responsible thing.”
Major banks including RBS, Lloyds and TSB have all said they will allow homeowners to halt mortgage payments if they have lost earnings through self-isolation.
However, as yet no such help has been offered to those who rent privately and there are concerns that some landlords might keep charging rent on their properties during the outbreak, even if their tenants are affected.
David Hanson, from Living Rent Edinburgh, said: "It is right that we do everything possible to allow people to follow medical guidance around coronavirus, but if landlords are being given "mortgage holidays" then it is imperative that they are forced to pass that on in full to tenants.”
Housing minister Kevin Stewart said measures to protect private tenants are currently being considered by the Scottish Government.
“No landlord should evict a tenant because they have suffered financial hardship due to coronavirus and we are actively considering how best this can be addressed,” he said.
“This is part of our urgent consideration on what wider measures can be put in place to support people against the economic impacts of coronavirus and further announcements will be made.
“People affected by coronavirus who are concerned about paying their rent can claim Universal Credit from the Department for Work and Pensions which includes support for housing costs, if eligible. The UK Government has introduced some temporary changes to make this easier.”
