Shelter’s Gordon MacRae spoke out as removals in Glasgow rise. 

A leading housing charity figure has said the continued use of evictions as a method to collect rent is a mistake. 

Gordon MacRae, assistant director of Shelter Scotland, said the decision made no sense financially or socially. 

Speaking to the Glasgow Times, Mr MacRae said those facing eviction often turn to charities such as Shelter Scotland for support, legal assistance and information.

However, he said due to the huge homelessness numbers in Scotland his organisation is under great pressure. 

He told the Glasgow Times: “Because they will end up back in the homeless system and impact on other services.

"Research by us from a few years ago shows that the cost of a social sector eviction for rent arrears can be somewhere between £15,000 and £25,000. 

"The number of people becoming homeless for reasons such as eviction, is continuing to increase and we're not confident that local services have the resources and the capacity to cope.

"Since the restrictions on eviction were lifted, there's been a steady increase in evictions as the landlords have effectively dealt with the backlog in the system.

"That, coupled with the continuing problems that people face - paying their rent, staying in work, cost of living and mental health issues - mean that every day we see a high number of complex, difficult cases, where people face losing a home simply because they can't afford it.

"Not that they won't, but they can't pay their rent."

Research by the Glasgow Times shows the number of evictions of this type in Glasgow are on the rise.

"The best advice is to go to the Shelter Scotland website, speak to us or other local services, understand what your rights are and engage with your landlord, who, nine times out of 10, will agree to a payment plan.

"It's in everyone's interest to keep people in the home that they have, not put them back into a system that's already struggling to cope.

"Homelessness is at a record high and there are more and more people struggling to afford the home that they have.

"There's a perfect storm that created this housing emergency, and we need the Scottish Government and the councils to start choosing to put more money and more services, more people and staff time into ending it."