Local authority evictions

In 2024–25, there were 16,543 notices of eviction proceedings issued by local authorities and 676 cases resulting in evictions or dwellings abandoned. The number of notices of eviction proceedings issued compared with 2023–24 was similar in 2024-25 (-0.6%) but remains lower (33%) than levels before the COVID-19 pandemic in 2019–20.

The diagram below (Figure A) illustrates the numbers of court actions taken against local authority tenants in 2024–25. The number of court orders granted is usually higher than the number of tenancies terminated due to the proportion of cases where a way to resolve the rent arrears and avoid eviction is found prior to enforcement of the court order.

Figure A: The number of evictions and actions, 2024–25, Scotland

There were 676 cases that ended in eviction or tenants abandoning their homes, an increase of 20% from the previous year but 41% lower than levels before the pandemic. The temporary moratorium on evictions put in place through the Cost of Living (Tenant Protection) Scotland Act (in 2022, after COVID-19 eviction restrictions) ended on 31 March 2024. Eviction orders could be enforced as normal after this date. 

Of the 676 tenancy terminations in 2024–25, 94% (634) were due to rent arrears – an increased proportion compared to 2023–24 (91%).

Chart 8: The number of evictions actions, 2001–02 to 2024–25, Scotland

Chart 8 illustrates trends over time in the number of notices of eviction proceedings. Key aspects to consider are:

• Pre-action requirements, effective since 1 August 2012, aim to better protect tenants facing eviction due to rent arrears. Social landlords must try all options to resolve arrears with tenants before pursuing eviction. These changes mainly impact the early stages of eviction proceedings (notice of proceedings issued) rather than the later stages.
• In response to the COVID-19 pandemic, on 7 April 2020 eviction notice periods were extended to 6 months for most cases. An eviction ban was then in place from 11 December 2020, until 31 March 2021. During this time, only exceptional circumstances, like serious anti-social or criminal behaviour, allowed enforcement of eviction orders. Consequently, there was a drop in evictions as well as abandoned dwellings.
• Since COVID-19 restrictions were lifted the number of notices of eviction proceedings, and subsequent stages (actions initiated, court orders granted, and dwellings evicted or abandoned) have increased but have not returned to pre-COVID-19 levels.
• The Cost of Living (Tenant Protection) Scotland Act came into force in October 2022. The Act put in place a temporary moratorium on evictions (a pause on the enforcement of an eviction order or decree), with exceptions in a limited number of circumstances where there are substantial rent arrears. The temporary moratorium on evictions ended on 31 March 2024. Eviction orders could be enforced as normal after this date.

Notes on local authority evictions data:

1. Further detailed figures are available in the local authority evictions Excel web tables.