Tenants in Glasgow who have incurred rent arrears because of the pandemic can apply for help from a fund after the council received £1.5m from the Scottish Government.

The city was allocated £1,542m from the Tenant Grant Fund for private and social rented tenants.

The Scottish Government set aside £10m for the fund across the country to help clear rent arrears caused directly by the pandemic.

If tenants meet the criteria they can get a share of the cash towards their arrears.

Landlords will identify tenants who could benefit and apply on their behalf, with their permission.

It covers tenants either private or social rented sector who have built up rent arrears, due to Covid-19, between March 23 2020 and August 9 2021.

Also if the tenant is at risk of homelessness and if the landlord has agreed to cease any eviction proceedings related to arrears owed upon issuance of the grant payment.

Tenants must still live at the property in which the arrears were built up.

The council said the cash from the Tenant Grant Fund will help support families in need but campaigners warn it is not enough to deal with the problem of people facing eviction and other measures including and eviction ban are needed.

Kenny McLean, City Convener for Housing at Glasgow City Council, said: “This funding will support those people and families who have - through no fault of their own, and as a result of the pandemic - found themselves in arrears that put their tenancy in jeopardy.

“We will work with housing associations, private landlords and organisations across the sector to support as many tenants as possible avoid this distressing prospect.”

Mhairi Hunter, Glasgow’s Convenor for Health & Social Care, said: “The Covid-19 Tenant Grant Fund will play an important role in tackling homelessness in Glasgow.

“By working with tenants and landlords to alleviate rent arrears and sustain tenancies on an ongoing basis, we will be able to prevent homelessness and support people and families suffering as a result of financial hardship caused by the pandemic.”

Sean Clerkin, homelessness campaigner said more action is needed.

He said: “The £1.542 million given to Glasgow City Council from the Scottish Government’s Scottish Tenant Grant Fund of £10 million to help tenants in rent arrears is totally inadequate in that thousands of tenants in Glasgow are already in severe financial difficulties due to the cost of living crisis and the Pandemic.

“This small Grant will not stop an increase in tenants being made homeless in the city as we need the Overall Level of Grant to be substantially increased, the eviction ban to be reinstated and for rent controls to be implemented.”