A LAW that makes it harder for councils and housing associations to evict tenants for failing to pay their rent has come into place.

Changes introduced by the Housing Scotland Act 2010 mean social landlords need to undertake a series of actions before going to court to evict a tenant.

Housing charity Shelter Scotland welcomed the move. Director Graeme Brown said 78,000 threats of eviction were issued against council and housing association tenants last year.

He added: "Too many social landlords are using the threat of eviction as a rent collection method."

The new legislation requires social landlords to meet seven key actions, called pre-action requirements, such as offering tenants advice on housing benefit and making reasonable efforts to agree a repayment plan for rent arrears.

Tenants will also get a final chance to reach agreement with the landlord on repayments after a court eviction order has been granted.

Councils carried out 1,061 evictions in the 2010-11 financial year, with other social landlords evicting 761 tenants, Shelter Scotland said.