Thousands of homeless people owe more than £33 million towards the cost of being rehoused, says a legal firm. The debt has been levelled against 29,641 households, many of whom became homeless during the pandemic.A report by Glasgow’s Legal Services Agency (LSA) discovered that homeless families owe £33.3million to 29 councils for emergency or temporary housing.The total is up to December 2020 and doesn’t include any costs levelled last year.People have been put up in hotels, hostels, B&Bs and furnished flats after being put out on the street and are legally liable for the bill, LSA found.The Sunday Mail spoke to some of Scotland’s biggest councils and only Fife ruled out pursuing the debt.That’s prompted calls from campaigners for the charges to abolished and the massive eight-figure arrears written off.LSA found that charges were excessive and the emergency housing was in poor condition.Some homeless tenants were also billed for food, electricity, gas and administration fees.The highest homeless debt is £12.7million in Edinburgh, followed by £5.1million in Glasgow, with £4.8million due in North Lanarkshire and £4.4million by Highland Council.Fife Council is owed £1.3 million, Aberdeen £744,000 and Dundee £93,000.None of the councils we spoke to would say if they were prepared to take people to court to get the money, except Fife.Aberdeen Council said they pursued all money owed but were reviewing unpaid temporary accommodation.
LSA is urging the law be changed so councils can no longer charge the homeless.It says one client was asked to pay £500 a week for a room in a Glasgow hostel.Report author Ben Christman fears councils could take the homeless to court to get the money.
Read more on dailyrecord.co.uk
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