A SCOTTISH mother who is facing eviction in just two days along with her severely autistic son has sent a video message to the First Minister urging her to intervene.
Lorraine Robinson-Moseley is a full-time carer from her 23-year-old son, who cannot tolerate everyday sounds and has sensory processing issues which require a sensory space and a garden.
The family had lived in private rented accommodation in Bathgate, West Lothian, but the owners decided to sell up earlier this year.
The first tier housing tribunal granted an eviction notice which is due to be carried out on December 2.
This is despite such action being put on hold across the rest of the UK because of the coronavirus pandemic.
Robinson-Moseley said her son’s needs were “complex” and that they could not move into new accommodation until work was completed to make the transition as straightforward as possible for her son, whose level of understanding is similar to that of an eight-year-old.
The family have been allocated a council property, but modifications to cater for the son’s needs will not be completed until January.
Green MSP Andy Wightman raised the case at First Minister’s Question in Holyrood last week.
He told The National: “His mother’s only concern is that sheriff’s officers knocking on the door will cause him to freak out.
“He can’t cope with the kind of interruptions that you and I would take for routine, far less being kicked out of his home.
“All the landlord has to do is give them a few more weeks.”
He added that almost 300 evictions had been carried out across the country since summer.
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In the video to Nicola Sturgeon, Robinson-Mosely said: “Are you are aware my family, and particularly my severely autistic son, are going to be evicted on December 2?
“Because, despite being in a Tier 4 Covid restricted area, we are being told we will be removed by sheriff’s officers on that day at 10am unless this is stopped.
“We thought there was an eviction ban in place.
She continued: “However, we’ve been told subsequently that since August over 100 evictions have taken place and it’s not safeguarded anybody.
“So I would like to ask the First Minister if she would consider putting the same ban in place that’s currently in England and Wales to safeguard our family and prevent the eviction from happening.”
The video from Robinson-Mosely came as the tenants union Living Rent posted a letter on social media in support of the family, signed by MSPs, lawyers and trade unionists.
“The Scottish Government has offered support to tenants during the pandemic, but the guidance against sheriff officers enforcing evictions under tier three and four restrictions has failed to fully protect people from eviction,” the letter reads.
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“The guidance is not being followed by all sheriff officers.
“Currently, the eviction ban in Scotland is weaker than that in place in England and Wales where the vast majority of evictions are illegal until 11th January.”
It said the family’s new home should be ready to move into by the end of January, when their landlord could regain possession of their existing home.
“Lorraine has voiced concerns that the eviction may also trigger her son, who may react badly to a sheriff officer encroaching on his personal space, especially in an area under tier four restrictions,” read the letter.
It added: “Lorraine’s family and other households in similar situations need a real eviction ban and they need it now.
“Will you introduce the same ban on evictions that the UK Government has in place?”
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