Janice Cambridge was commenting after a report by homeless charity Shelter Scotland revealed that SBHA had evicted 50 tenants in 2008/09 – up from 35 the previous year, which is a hike of 43 per cent.

“It is important your rent is paid to ensure you keep your home,” stated a recent SBHA newsletter to tenants.

The association, which employs more than 200 people and has its HQ at Whinfield Road, was owned nearly £1million in unpaid rent during 2007/08. And Mrs Cambridge has defended the continued use of the “last-resort” option of eviction for persistent defaulters, despite criticism from South of Scotland List MSP Christine Grahame.

The Shelter research shows that evictions across Scotland’s local authorities were down by 15 per cent last year, while the number of tenants shown the door by registered social landlords, such as SBHA, which now own housing stock transferred from councils, fell nationally by 13 per cent. The report also notes that evictions by Glasgow Housing Association were cut by 24 per cent compared to the previous year after it shifted the emphasis of its arrears policy away from legal action to early intervention and engagement with staff. Stirling Council has gone further, imposing a ban on evictions for rent arrears last June.

Mrs Cambridge told us: “The vast majority of SBHA’s evictions are for rent arrears, even though our rent levels are quite low compared to others.

“SBHA only carries out evictions as a last resort, and only where tenants in arrears not only refuse to pay, but also refuse to co-operate with our welfare benefits advisers or fail to agree and maintain a system whereby they can repay their debt in small instalments.

“We intervene very quickly, after two weeks arrears have accrued, when tenants first get behind with their rent, and we provide not just advice and support, but a wide range of convenient methods of payment.

“Many tenants get into minor difficulties with their rent from time to time and we do show patience and give them help to get back on track. Those who end up getting to the eviction stage are primarily, in our experience, those who will pay any other bill except their rent – some in the mistaken belief that we won’t evict them.”

The chief executive went on: “Of course we have sympathy for those on low and fixed incomes who are juggling competing bills, but surely your home is one thing you should give priority to?

“Landlords are often criticised for carrying out evictions, but there is another equally-important issue.

“It is those tenants who do pay their rent who have to pick up the tab for those who don’t. It costs a lot of money to run a team of staff to pursue rent arrears and rental income pays for this.

“SBHA has a multi-million pound programme of home improvements under way and, again, we need to get the rent monies in to finance these works.