A SOCIAL-HOUSING landlord in Scotland has been accused of trying to evict a woman this Christmas after she unknowingly entered rent arrears following a benefit “restructuring.”

The Living Rent tenants’ union in Glasgow is challenging a decision by Glasgow Housing Association (GHA) to take one of its members to court to remove her from her home of 15 years.

Catherine Bennett, the affected tenant, was not notified that her housing benefits had been restructured, which resulted in her accruing hundreds of pounds of arrears and being threatened with eviction.

Now, Ms Bennett has been taken to court with GHA looking to force an eviction, which would mean she would be left without a house before Christmas Day.

She said: “I’ve been in this flat for 15 years and have never had complaints against me.

“All my family are here, who I rely on more than ever with the deterioration of my health and wellbeing due to the stress of eviction proceedings that I have been dealing with since January.

“The prospect of losing my home is so terrifying I can’t comprehend it.”

Living Rent says that it has contacted the housing association to renegotiate the payment plan but has received no response.

Representatives say GHA did not provide clear information and advice on the rent arrears and has refused to renegotiate the payment plan.

A group from the tenants’ union travelled to the offices of GHA, a subsidiary of the Wheatley Group, today to challenge its actions ahead of a court date tomorrow.

Living Rent is demanding that GHA agree to renegotiate the repayment plan, which the campaigners claim is unrealistic, as well as dropping the eviction proceedings.

Union member Anna Knox said: “GHA is intending to put our member and friend on the street right before Christmas, during some of the coldest months of the year.

“Living Rent is uncompromising about the fact that no-one should be forced onto the streets in the freezing cold, and we are hoping that the courts will make a stand against these cruel proceedings.”

This comes amid increased concern about homelessness and winter evictions in the city, with Glasgow City Council backing a motion recognising the need for a winter evictions ban.

A GHA spokesman said: “We take all our obligations to our tenants very seriously. However, all tenants sign a tenancy agreement and they too have to fulfil their obligations as a tenant.”