We aim to make our website as accessible as possible. However if you use a screen reader and require debt advice you may find it easier to phone us instead. Our phone number is 0 8 0 0 1 3 8 1 1 1 1. Freephone (including all mobiles).
Man and woman in their 60s talking outdoors and looking serious

The debt situation in Scotland

Our 'Scotland in the Red' report identifies some of the key characteristics and debt situations of our clients in Scotland in 2020.

Download the report

Scotland in the Red report

Scotland in the Red is our annual publication that explains our key client statistics and looks at what life is like for Scots experiencing problem debt.

We analyse data from every Scottish Constituency and Local Authority to get a picture of how things were for our clients throughout 2020.

 

Number one

Last year, 43% of Clients in Scotland were struggling with Council Tax bills

Council Tax remains one of the main debt problems for our Scottish clients, with 43% behind. Concerningly, 51% of vulnerable clients were behind with this bill.

43% of Clients in Scotland were struggling with Council Tax bills
Number 2

One in five (18%) of Scottish clients in problem debt were single parents

As with recent years, the charity continued to advise a disproportionate number of lone parents. Two in five (18%) clients were single parents, compared to 2% of the wider Scottish population.

One in five (18%) of Scottish clients in problem debt were single parents
Number 3

Client average rent arrears have increased

Three in five (59%) of clients were renting, nearly a quarter (24%) were renting privately. Average rent arrears have rocketed by £370, an eye watering 43% increase since 2019.

Supporting households in difficulty and preventing them from falling into difficulty in the first place, must be a primary focus for the Scottish Government.

Our report makes six recommendations that will go some way to address the difficulties for clients identified by Scotland in the Red.

Download the report


Want more information?

Email us to discuss our 2020 personal debt statistics and other debt research across the UK.

policy@stepchange.org