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The number of households in temporary accommodation in Scotland has fallen for the first time since the start of the COVID-19 crisis, as total homes let by social landlords to homeless people increase by almost 30%, the latest monthly data from the Scottish Housing Regulator (SHR) shows.
At the end of September, there were 14,229 households living in temporary accommodation in Scotland, a slight drop from the 14,383 living in temporary accommodation at the end of August, but still much higher than the 11,665 living in temporary accommodation at the end of March this year.
Throughout the COVID-19 crisis, the number of people in temporary accommodation has steadily increased across Scotland as councils were ordered to find self-contained emergency accommodation for all people living on the streets or in communal shelters.
The drop in temporary accommodation numbers coincides with an increase in the number of homes being let by social landlords to homeless people, with 922 homes rented in September, up 28% from the 718 units let in August.
Of the 922 residences let to homeless people in September, 906 (98%) were let on a Scottish Secure Tenancy, under which a landlord must provide a reason to evict tenants, while 16 (2%) were provided with a Short Scottish Secure Tenancy, which allows landlords to evict tenants without reason after a fixed term.
Meanwhile, the number of people applying to councils as homeless also decreased in September, when councils received 2,901 homeless applications, down 3% from the 2,991 applications received in August
This marks the second month in a row that homeless applications have decreased in Scotland since the start of the COVID-19 crisis.
The regulator’s data also showed total rent arrears falling for the first time since March, with a collective £163.5m (6.27% of rent due) owed in arrears at the end of September, down 1% from the £165m (6.32% of rent due) owed at the end of August.
The number of eviction notices issued by social landlords for rent arrears continued to rise – 801 were issued in September, up 24% from the 647 issued in August.
The SHR has been collecting monthly data on Scottish social landlords since April in order to measure the impact of the COVID-19 crisis on the sector.
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