SCOTTISH Greens have warned that tenants face the threat of homelessness nine months after a ban on evictions ran out.

The ban, coupled with a freeze on rents, was introduced in 2022 as a temporary measure during the pandemic, but ran out in March this year.

Green MSP Ariane Burgess has warned that without the ban and rent freeze, tenants faced potential rent increases and evictions by landlords.

She said: “Homelessness is on the rise as many cannot meet the soaring fees to rent privately and I fear this will increase over Scotland’s first winter since the temporary eviction protections that the Scottish Greens introduced came to an end.

“This winter there is a real threat of more tenancies ending abruptly and more people facing homelessness as a result.”

She called for “robust and permanent protections” for tenants in a forthcoming housing Bill and action to utilise empty homes and other buildings.