The Scottish Government is considering whether to halt all evictions during the coronavirus pandemic amid demands from campaigners.

Scottish Labour is calling for a ban on evictions and wants the SNP at Holyrood to underwrite public and private sector rent breaks.

Glasgow MSP Pauline McNeill said three month rent holidays should be an "absolute minimum".

Communities minister Aileen Campbell announced a temporary law change on Wednesday to extend the period a tenant can be in rent arrears without being evicted from three months to six.

She has now revealed the government could take legal action to protect tenants and is exploring following Boris Johnson's example by stopping all evictions.

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Ms Campbell also said there will be no evictions in the social housing sector.

"I am aware of the move by the UK Government to temporarily halt all evictions," she said. "We are currently considering whether similar measures would help, in the context of our own emerging response to the impacts of Covid-19.

"People should not lose their homes because of the financial pressure caused by coronavirus and we will take all possible action, including legal action to protect them.

"Anyone, including tenants, being plunged into financial difficulties should immediately access the support they are entitled to through the welfare benefits system."

She added: "We have told all landlords they should support tenants and sign-post them to the help and support available, including applying for Universal Credit and discretionary housing payments.

"We have been working closely with the representative bodies for social housing landlords - the Scottish Federation of Housing Associations and Glasgow and West of Scotland Forum of Housing Associations - and can confirm there will be no evictions in the social housing sector due to financial hardship resulting from Covid-19."

Alongside Andy Wightman, the Green Party housing spokesman, Ms McNeill sent a letter to the government asking for more action.

"If landlords are getting mortgage holidays they should almost certainly pass that on," she said.

Ms McNeill acknowledged the government currently has its hands full but said: "I think they've called this one wrong."

She said there are numerous grounds for eviction and the government's law change only covered one of them. "That goes nowhere near far enough for us."

Govan Law Centre has also called for a three month moratorium on all evictions in Scotland and thousands of people have signed a petition launched by Living Rent, Scotland's tenants union, demanding rent holidays and an eviction ban.

Scottish Labour leader Richard Leonard has said: "Owner-occupiers have been given the assurance of a mortgage holiday, meaning they will not lose their homes if they fall behind with payments. Renters deserve the same assurance."

First Minister Nicola Sturgeon refused to rule out further action when she spoke in parliament on Thursday.

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She said: "We will continue to look at the action we can take and need to take."

Ms Sturgeon said housing tribunals aren't currently sitting so no proceedings can be taken forward.

She added: "Nobody should face eviction from their home because of rent arrears accrued because of the coronavirus crisis. We will not hesitate to take the action required."