A Green Party activist who is a member of the Scottish Parliament has put forward proposals to permanently ban all private rental evictions in winter

Maggie Chapman’s proposal has been lodged as an amendment to the upcoming Housing (Scotland) Bill.

The party says the amendment would “protect” tenants by banning evictions between November and March each year.

In 2022, as part of the Scottish Government, the Greens engineered temporary protections for tenants, provoking fierce opposition from landlords and potential investors in Scottish housing projects.

Chapman now says: “Everyone deserves stability and a warm and safe place to call home. Evictions are really stressful for renters, particularly during a cold winter where temperatures are low and budgets are tight.

“The temporary protections that the Scottish Greens introduced to curb winter evictions were crucial in protecting people and families struggling to get through the coldest, harshest months of the year.

“It is vital that we make these changes permanent. That means taking action to ensure that nobody is at risk of eviction over winter in Scotland. That is why I am lodging these proposals and calling for permanent protections to be put in place.

“Scotland is in a housing emergency, and evictions only intensify this issue. There must be measures taken to ensure that things do not worsen for renters who need our support.”