Tag: housing

Solving the housing crisis: council looks to private sector for ideas

The City of Edinburgh Council has this month invited the private sector to bring forward proposals to deliver affordable housing on sites not owned by the Council.

As agreed at the Housing, Homelessness and Fair Work Committee in November, through a Prior Information Notice (PIN), published on the Public Contracts Scotland website, the Council is looking to encourage the private sector, particularly investors, landowners and developers, to consider what ways they could work with the Council to accelerate the ambition to deliver 20,000 affordable homes by 2027.

The PIN focusses on three key areas: purchase of development sites, purchase of completed homes and an opportunity to propose innovative solutions such as leasehold proposals and partnerships.

The PIN also sets out a range of outcomes that the market must consider when putting forward proposals and overall gives the market an opportunity to tell the Council what they can do.

It will also help to inform the next steps, including whether there needs to be a procurement exercise and what that should look like. Establishing a structured approach to market engagement will allow the transparency and assessment of best value that the public sector needs but there is also a desire to make the process as accessible as possible and allow the Council to react to opportunities over the coming years.

Released through Public Contracts Scotland it is open for everyone to take a look, consider the options and register interest in this engagement process. The PIN will close on 31 January 2022.

Housing Convener, Councillor Kate Campbell, said: “Edinburgh needs more affordable homes. We’re doing everything we can through the Council’s own housebuilding programme, and working with housing associations, to provide social and mid-market homes. But we need to look at every possible way to create additional affordable housing – so I am really keen to see what ideas come from the private sector.

“I hope this process will create new and innovative ways to provide even more affordable homes that are so needed in our city.

“By going out to the market we’re asking the question of housing developers or landowners about what they could deliver now. But we’re also inviting them to start thinking about what might be possible, and how they can contribute to helping us deal with one of the biggest challenges facing our city.”

Vice Housing Convener, Councillor Mandy Watt, said: “We are looking forward to seeing what comes back in through this process. It’s an opportunity for the private sector to consider what they might be able to contribute to Edinburgh in terms of affordable housing.

“We expect any proposals submitted to fit with our strategy of providing affordable, good quality, sustainable homes that deliver value for money. We are open to both traditional and innovative ideas which achieve the outcomes that our citizens need.

“Some landowners or developers maybe interested in this but are unfamiliar with this process, so we’d encourage them to come forward and speak to our procurement team to find out more.”

If you have any queries on the PIN or accessing Public Contracts Scotland please contact Kelly Faulds Kelly.faulds@edinburgh.gov.uk

A new deal for tenants: consultation launched

Plans to deliver a new deal for tenants, with stronger rights, greater protections against eviction and access to greener, higher-quality, more affordable housing, have been launched.

The proposals, which are now open to public consultation, aim to deliver a fairer rented sector that meets the needs of tenants and welcomes responsible landlords.

They include:

  • increasing penalties for illegal evictions and stronger enforcement
  • restricting evictions during winter
  • giving tenants greater flexibility to personalise their homes and keep pets
  • developing a national system of rent controls for the private rented sector
  • introducing a new Housing Standard to apply to all homes
  • establishing a private rented sector regulator to uphold these standards and ensure the system is fair for both landlords and tenants
  • setting minimum standards for energy efficiency, making homes cheaper to heat while contributing to Scotland’s climate change targets

The measures form part of the Housing to 2040 strategy, published in March this year, and take forward several commitments made in the co-operation agreement with the Scottish Green Party. The results of the consultation will feed into the final version of the strategy to be published next year, with elements of the proposals put to the Scottish Parliament in a Housing Bill in 2023.

Tenants’ Rights Minister Patrick Harvie said: “Now is the time to do more for people who rent their homes, whether they are renting privately, from the council or from a housing association. Delivering a new deal for tenants is central to our ambitions for a fairer Scotland, tackling child poverty and meeting climate change targets.

“Above all else it will significantly improve the lives of Scotland’s tenants, giving them more stability, more choice over where they live and how they decorate their homes, and the confidence that their home will be of a high quality. At the same time it will recognise the interests of good quality, responsible landlords.  

“We will be working in partnership with landlords, letting agents, tenants and others to deliver this strategy, and we want to gather the broadest range of views. I would encourage anyone with an interest to respond to our consultation.”

Alison Watson, Director of Shelter Scotland, said: “A warm, safe, and permanent home is a right not a privilege for everyone in Scotland. To make this a reality we need to ensure there is enough social housing for everyone who needs it, while strengthening the rights of tenants and empowering people to defend them.

“Shelter Scotland has long called for tenants’ rights and protections, in both the social and private sectors, to be strengthened to make sure no one can be denied their right to a home. Too many renters aren’t aware of their rights or don’t feel confident in enforcing them and that needs to change.

“This is an ambitious strategy, and it offers the chance to mend many aspects of a housing system that is currently failing thousands. We are excited to work with the Scottish Government to develop these ideas and build a better future for housing in Scotland.”

Sally Thomas, Chief Executive of the Scottish Federation of Housing Associations (SFHA), said: “We welcome the Scottish Government’s ambition that all tenants should have access to secure, good quality, affordable homes. We are also pleased the government has acknowledged the unique role housing associations have in delivering these outcomes to people right across Scotland.   

“Fairness, quality and affordability are at the heart of the social housing sector, with our homes built to the highest standards, and tenants regularly engaged in important decisions.  

“This consultation provides an opportunity to inform and shape the detail behind these important principles, not least to provide a clearer definition of affordability. SFHA and our members look forward to working with Scottish Government over the coming months to do this.” 

The consultation closes on 15 April 2022.

Scotland’s October House Price Index from Walker Fraser Steele

Headlines:

  • Average house price in Scotland up by 11.4% over last 12 months
  • Monthly growth rates starting to soften
  • 31 of 32 Local Authorities have rising average prices over year to end October
  • Scotland again outperforming England, Wales & NI
  • £750k+ house sales double that of Jan – Oct 2020

Alan Penman, Business Development Manager at Walker Fraser Steele, comments: “The continued story of Scotland’s successful year for higher priced properties continues.

“The average house price in Scotland has increased by some £21,800 over the last 12 months but our data shows there have been 872 sales over £750k (the point at which the highest rate of Land and Buildings Transaction Tax (LBTT) is applied) during the first ten months of 2021.

“We expect up to 30 additional sales in October 2021, not yet recorded by the Registers of Scotland and so not included in the above total. This would mean sales of these higher-value properties to the end of October 2021 would likely be double in number to those of the first ten months of 2020.

“What we are seeing is the impact of the cut in LBTT earlier in the year, the continuation of low interest rates and cheaper mortgage finance, and the desire of many purchasers during the pandemic to buy bigger properties in the race for space. These factors have meant higher-end properties have played a significant part in the overall growth figure.

“Sales volumes from May to October 2021 are only slightly ahead of previous years, and suggest that the market has now returned to pre-pandemic transaction levels. Nevertheless, the continuing strong performance in October means Scotland had the highest annual rate of house price growth of the four home nations with annual growth at 11.4%, followed by Northern Ireland at 10% (Ulster University Index), Wales at 9.6% and England, without Wales, at 3.9%.”

Commentary: John Tindale, Acadata Senior Housing Analyst

The October housing market:

Scotland’s October housing market is starting to show some signs of slowing in terms of price growth, but it’s necessary to look quite hard for the evidence. We provide four possible indicators:-

Firstly, we can point to an actual reduction in the average house price in October, with the value now standing at £212,551 – but this is only £70 lower than the previous month. However, it does bring to an end a three-month run from July to September 2021, in which average prices rose by an overall £11,000.

Secondly, we can show that in October only some 90 homes in Scotland were sold at a price in excess of £750k, compared to 120 in September. Nevertheless, we could point out that – if we looked at the monthly totals prior to October 2020, ie one year earlier – then 90 sales in a single month having a value over £750k would have set a new record at that time.

Thirdly, the average house price in both Edinburgh and Glasgow fell in October, with the two cities collectively accounting for approximately 25% of all property sales in Scotland. But we could also point out that the same happened in both October 2017 and October 2019, with Scotland’s average house price for those two years showing continued positive growth.

Lastly, and perhaps the most compelling argument is that England and Wales have seen their house price growth start to fall. Figure 1 below compares Scotland’s annual rate of growth, which was at 11.4% in October, with that of England and Wales combined, where rates have fallen to 4.1%. In fact, eight of the nine regions in England saw their annual rates of growth fall in October. (For a comparative Table go to Figure 4 and follow the link.)

In October, Scotland had the highest annual rate of house price growth of the four United Kingdom countries, at 11.4%, with Northern Ireland in second place at 10% (Ulster University Index), followed by Wales at 9.6% and England, without Wales, at 3.9%. England has started to see a reduction in the number of high-value detached properties being sold – perhaps due to a shortage in the level of available stock – resulting in average prices beginning to fall.

Walker-Fraser-Steele-Acadata-House-Price-Index-Scotland-October-2021-003Download

Preventing Homelessness: Scottish Government opens consultation

Views sought on proposed legal duties for public bodies

Health and social care services, children’s services, police and other public bodies will have a legal duty to ‘ask and act’ to prevent homelessness under Scottish Government proposals.

The measures would be part of new laws aimed at preventing homelessness, based on recommendations from an expert group convened by the charity Crisis at the request of the Scottish Government. They would represent the biggest change to Scotland’s homelessness legislation in almost a decade.

Public bodies would have a legal duty to identify anyone at risk of homelessness and either take action themselves or refer on to more appropriate help.

A consultation on the plans, run jointly with COSLA, will give people with experience of homelessness, alongside those from the housing sector, public bodies and others, the chance to share their views and help shape Scotland’s approach to preventing homelessness.

Social Justice Secretary Shona Robison said: “We know that the best way to end homelessness is to prevent it from happening in the first place. These new proposals build on the strong housing rights that already exist in Scotland for people who become homeless.

“Early action should be a shared public responsibility, giving people facing homelessness more choice and control over where they live.

“Homelessness is often a traumatic and unsettling experience that can have a profound impact on the lives of those involved, including children.

“By intervening at an earlier stage, and encouraging services to work together to respond to people’s needs, we can ensure fewer people and families are faced with having to re-build lives affected by homelessness.

“This will further add to our existing ambitious programme of work and investment to ensure everyone has a safe, warm place to call home.”

Jon Sparkes, Chief Executive of Crisis, said: “We strongly support plans for new duties for public bodies to prevent homelessness in Scotland. 

“Scotland has made huge progress in its journey towards ending homelessness in recent years, but while the country has powerful protections in place for people experiencing homelessness, far too many people are being forced to reach crisis point before they get the help they need. 

“Everyone has a role to play in preventing homelessness, and by introducing new duties requiring public services to ask about someone’s housing situation, and offer them the help they need, we can build a truly world leading system of homelessness prevention.” 

Councillor Kelly Parry, COSLA Spokesperson for Community Wellbeing said: “People have a right to a place they can call home. Rough sleeping and sofa surfing is something we have always worked to eliminate.

“We welcome the proposal that the duty to end homelessness will be shared with other public bodies and look forward to being closely engaged in the consultation with other partners”.

Prevention of Homelessness Duties consultation – closes 31 March 2022

Barratt is leading the way in delivering eco-friendly homes

Environmentally-minded buyers can save thousands with new green deals being offered by housebuilder

Barratt Developments Scotland is leading the way in delivering eco-friendly homes to buyers in Scotland, and is well on its way to meeting top energy efficiency standards set out by the Scottish Government.

Latest research by the UK’s largest housebuilder, which owns Barratt and David Wilson homes, shows that all of Barratt’s new homes (100 per cent) are built to a minimum EPC rating of B or above.

This puts Barratt ahead of schedule in meeting the Scottish Government’s Heat in Buildings Strategy, which sets housebuilders an ambitious target to achieve a good standard of energy efficiency, and by 2033 to meet at least an EPC band C standard.

All new homes are given an EPC rating between A and G, with A being the most energy efficient in terms of likely fuel costs and carbon dioxide emissions, but there are currently no legal requirements on a minimum EPC rating for new build homes.

The housebuilder has also announced a new partnership with Halifax bank that now offers green mortgages to environmentally-minded buyers, which means that those purchasing Barratt’s energy-efficient homes could be offered a larger loan with lower interest rates as a consequence of their smaller anticipated energy bills.

Doug McLeod, regional managing director for Barratt Developments in Scotland, believes newly-built properties’ eco credentials could soon be the ultimate selling point for homeowners, in particular first-time buyers struggling to get on the property market. He said: “A new generation of homebuyers could find new homes with green credentials as their only affordable option.

“We know that energy spending can be a major household outgoing and a big part of the consideration when buying a new home. Environmental considerations are also becoming increasingly important for home buyers as we search for ways to create a net zero carbon emission society, and at Barratt Homes we are committed to playing our part by enabling our customers to make greener choices when it comes to buying a new house.

“The affordability of some of the green mortgage deals, combined with the energy efficiency and cheaper running costs of new build homes, are already leading to more and more first-time buyers taking the new build route into home ownership.”

It’s not the first time Barratt has taken a lead for the housebuilding industry.

Last month, Barratt launched a unique flagship zero carbon home concept called the Z House that will be occupied and monitored to assess its performance. And last year, the company announced its commitment to reduce direct carbon emissions by 29 per cent by 2025 and to achieve net zero greenhouse gas emissions in its own operations by 2040.

The winner of Sustainable House Builder of the Year, Barratt will also cut its indirect carbon emissions (those coming from its homes and from its supply chain) by 24 per cent per square metre by 2030. Building lower carbon homes and using more sustainable materials will be a key part of achieving this target.

It will also deliver new zero carbon standard house types from 2030 and ensure that 100 per cent of the electricity that it purchases will be renewable by 2025.

As the country’s largest housebuilder, Doug McLeod, says they have a major role to play in looking after the environment in a sustainable way for future generations, whilst also delivering the homes this country urgently needs.

All new Barratt homes are up to 57 per cent cheaper to run, meaning homeowners could save up to £1,410 on their bills each year compared to an updated Victorian equivalent property.

They come with features such as modern double glazing fitted with argon gas that is designed to capture the sunlight and flood rooms with light, as well as smart technologies which include solar panels, highly efficient boilers, heat recovery, and increased insulation in walls, floors and roofs to make sure that draughts won’t cause winter chills.

David Balfour, account director at New Homes Mortgage Scotland, said: “We are increasingly hearing from our customers that they’re interested in purchasing an energy efficient home as they prioritise environmentally-friendly lifestyles. 

“Green mortgages are most commonly available on new build homes where homebuyers could benefit from cheaper rates and cashback incentives. 

“Eligibility for many of the green mortgage deals is linked to the property’s EPC rating – for example, it might need to be A or B. A large proportion of the UK’s housing stock is old. This is one reason why more and more homeowners and first-time buyers are choosing new build properties that are sold with excellent EPC ratings of B and above.”

Reducing carbon emissions and having the top energy efficiency ratings in new build homes isn’t the only way Barratt is helping to save the planet. They are also making wildlife-friendly places to live through their partnership with RSPB, the country’s largest nature conservation charity.

By 2023 Barratt will further prioritise wildlife on all new developments by creating dedicated spaces for local biodiversity conservation, installing a range of wildlife-friendly features including hedgehog hideaways and swift nesting sites. Beyond 2023 their goal is to have at least 10 per cent more wildlife habitats in and around developments, delivering a clear biodiversity net gain across the country.

Green mortgage case study (Edinburgh)

Graeme Pearson, aged 37, has swapped his draughty Victorian tenement flat with old timber sash and case windows and extremely high ceilings for a three-bed end terrace Barratt home in Edinburgh. He moved in with his partner in November 2021 and is looking forward to a more energy efficient and quick heating home with lower fuel bills.

Graeme, who has benefited from a green mortgage deal with a lower interest rate and cash back deal through Barratt’s partnership with Halifax, said: “My last home was an old Victorian tenement flat that was almost impossible to heat and had draughts everywhere.

“It could be bitterly cold in the winter so my partner and I are very much looking forward to our brand new Barratt home that has plenty of eco credentials to shout about, from below slab insulation to efficient uPVC windows. I also opted for the installation of a convection hob as I believe moving away from gas cooking is an important step towards future sustainability, and we have solar panels on the roof.

“I might consider installing an EV charging point in the future and running a cable across the footway to an adjacent parking space.”

For more information on Barratt’s eco-friendly homes, visit 

www.barratthomes.co.uk.

Scottish developer aims for hole in one with Juniper Green project

An Edinburgh-based property developer has broken ground on a new housing project on the outskirts of the city, with support from Bank of Scotland.

Gallo & Gallo Developments is a family-run business that specialises in developing luxury residential properties across Edinburgh. The firm is run by Riccardo and Mary-Anne Gallo, with Riccardo overseeing the construction process while his wife Mary-Anne specialises in interior design through her own company, Mary-Anne Gallo Interiors.

Since 2008, the business has renovated and developed properties across Edinburgh, helping it achieve an annual turnover of more than £3 million.

Now, the firm is focused on plans for a new five-property development beside Baberton Golf Club in Juniper Green. To facilitate the project, Gallo & Gallo Developments approached Bank of Scotland, securing a seven-figure development funding package to support the build of the new homes.

The new development will feature four ‘upside down’ townhouses, with kitchens and living rooms located on the top floor to take advantage of the views of Edinburgh Castle, while the bedrooms will be located on the lower floors. The former professional golf shop at Baberton Golf Club will also be converted, taking the total number of townhouses to five.

The new homes are designed for families and early retirees and are expected to complete by early Spring 2022.

Gallo & Gallo Developments is also planning to embark on its first venture outside of Edinburgh, with a new multi-unit project in Gullane, East Lothian. This development is expected to go live mid-2022.

Riccardo Gallo, director at Gallo & Gallo Developments, said: “Myself and Mary-Anne have always had a passion for property development and renovation, and we’ve spent more than a decade expanding our footprint here in Edinburgh.

“When we spotted the opportunity in Juniper Green, we knew it would be the perfect next venture for us. While the scale of the development meant it would be our biggest challenge to date, it’s a tremendously exciting project for us. Thanks to Bank of Scotland, we’ve been able to secure the finance required during a time where demand for residential property in the capital continues to grow. 

“That said, this demand is extending with people increasingly keen to live beyond the city limits. This is why we’re hoping to break ground on a new development in Gullane in summer next year and continue to grow our portfolio across the central belt of Scotland.”

Douglas Spowart, relationship director at Bank of Scotland, said: “The latest monthly House Price Report from ESPC has shown that house prices in Edinburgh are still rising as buyer demand continues to outweigh supply.*

“Gallo & Gallo Development’s new project will provide a range of new properties for families in Edinburgh and boost the supply of residential properties in the city.

“We’ll continue to support the business as it continues on its growth journey, and also stand by firms in other sectors as they look to take advantage of new and exciting growth opportunities.”

* https://espc.com/news/post/house-price-report-october-2021

Short-term lets: Legislation laid before Scottish Parliament

Councils will be given powers to ensure short-term lets are safe and meet the needs of their local communities under legislation laid before the Scottish Parliament.

Under the legislation, all local authorities will be required to establish a short-term lets licensing scheme by October 2022. Existing hosts and operators will have until 1 April 2023 to apply for a licence for each property that they operate as a short-term let. All short-term lets in Scotland will have to be licensed by 1 July 2024.

The legislation was developed after residents across Scotland raised significant concerns about the impact of short-term lets on their communities, including noise, antisocial behaviour and the impact on the supply on housing in some areas.

It will ensure the needs and concerns of communities are balanced with wider economic and tourism interests.

Housing Secretary Shona Robison said: “We have already introduced legislation allowing councils to establish short-term let control areas and manage numbers of short-term lets. This is the next significant step to delivering a licensing scheme that will ensure short-term lets are safe and the people providing them are suitable.

“We want short term lets to continue making a positive impact on Scotland’s tourism industry and local economies while meeting the needs of local communities.

“Short-term lets can offer people a flexible travel option. However, we know that in certain areas, particularly tourist hotspots, high numbers of lets can cause problems for neighbours and make it harder for people to find homes to live in.

“The licensing scheme and control area legislation give councils the powers to take action where they need to.

“We appreciate the input from tourism bodies, local government, community organisations and others in reaching this point, and look forward to delivering a short-term lets licensing scheme that works for Scotland.”

Further information on the Scottish Government’s short-term lets legislation is available online.

UK rental growth hits 13 year high as demand increases in Scotland’s major cities

  • Acute rental demand over Q3 2021 has pushed UK rental growth to its highest level since 2008
  • Annual rent growth has increased by 7.2% in Glasgow and 3.6% in Edinburgh
  • Demand continues to outstrip supply, which is running at 43% below the five-year average – exerting an upward pressure on rents
  • Average UK rents are now tracking at +4.6% on the year [and 6% excluding London], after climbing 3% over the last quarter – with rental demand doubling in central Leeds, Manchester and Edinburgh and London in Q3 v. Q1
  • Rental growth is close to, or at, a 10-year high across most UK regions – except for in London and Scotland
  • After 15 months of consecutive falls, London’s rents have swung back into positive territory, rising by 4.7% between June and September, as offices reopened and city life resumed
  • The structural undersupply of rental properties across the country and the strength of the employment market will support rental growth into 2022
  • UK rental growth [excluding London] is set to ease slightly to 4.5% by the end of 2022

UK rental market growth has reached a 13 year high as renters rush back to city centres, reports Zoopla, the UK’s leading property portal, in its quarterly Rental Market Report.

Record price growth defines new era for the UK rental market

Acute tenant demand over the third quarter of 2021 has propelled UK rental growth to its highest level for over a decade [13 years]. 

The market is being shaped by an ongoing supply and demand imbalance, with demand continuing to outstrip supply, which is running at 43% below the five year average and exerting an upward pressure on rents. 

The imbalance has been compounded by both long-term structural issues such as landlord divestment following the 3% stamp duty levy introduced in 2016, and more the immediate post-lockdown demand, which collectively have eroded available supply.

Average UK rents are now tracking at 4.6% year on year, after climbing 3% over the last quarter. Excluding London, where the market has lagged, average UK rental growth has reached a 14-year high of +6%.

Rental growth is also explained in part by tenant demand moving up the price bands [see figure 1]. This reflects the ongoing search for space, which has not only characterised the sales market, but the rental market, too.

Figure 1

Affordability remains steady – despite pan-regional rises

UK monthly rents now account for 37% of an average income for a single tenant occupant; however, even with strong rental growth, the measure of affordability remains in line with the five year average [see figure 2]*.

The regions registering the highest levels of rental growth are among those that are the most affordable when compared to the UK average, and as such, there has been more headroom for rents to increase. 

Rental growth is close to, or at, a 10-year high across most UK regions – except for in London and Scotland. Rents are up most in the South West (9%) year on year, followed by Wales (7.7%) and the East Midlands (6.9%).

In many of the UK’s largest cities, annual rental growth is running well ahead of the five-year average rate of growth. Bristol leads with 8.4% growth in the year to September, followed by Nottingham at 8.3%, and Glasgow at 7.2%.

Rental demand in the central zones of Manchester, Edinburgh  and Leeds has at least doubled over Q3 compared to Q1, and in Birmingham demand has increased by 60% – buoyed by the return of office workers and students, and the lure of city life.

Figure 2

London rents rebound into positive growth – but remain lower than pre-pandemic levels

After 15 months of consecutive falls, London’s rents swung back into positive territory, up +4.7%, in Q3. This amounts to annual growth of +1.6% compared to falls of almost 10% at the start of the year.

As with other major UK cities, market activity rose significantly in Q3, with tenancies agreed in London running 50% above the five-year average, underlining the bounceback in the market as offices reopened and city life resumed.

Despite this upward trajectory, given the falls over the last 18 months, average London rents are still 5% lower than they were at the start of the pandemic.

Rents forecast to rise by a further 4.5% by the end of 2022

Looking ahead to the new year, the structural undersupply of rental properties across the country is expected to support rental growth into 2022. 

In addition, the supply shortage coupled with the strength of the employment market which, despite the pandemic, is set to remain robust, will in turn support demand and sustain rental growth.

While the level of rental demand might ease in the near term in line with seasonal trends, demand levels will  remain higher than usual, especially in city centres, where there is an element of pent-up demand being released.

On the supply side, rental stock will remain tight, amid lower levels of investment into the sector by landlords, and this will underpin rental pricing. There is more leeway for stronger rental growth in areas of the country where rents are relatively more affordable, suggesting that rents could rise above earnings outside of the south of England, supporting rental growth across the UK excluding London at 6% in 2021 and 4% in 2022. 

Meanwhile, London rental growth is expected to pick up to 3.5%, with rents ultimately exceeding pre-pandemic levels.

Gráinne Gilmore, Head of Research, Zoopla, comments: “The swing back of demand into city centres, including London, has underpinned another rise in rents in Q3, especially as the supply of rental property remains tight. 

“Households looking for the flexibility of rental accomodation, especially students and city workers, are back in the market after consecutive lockdowns affected demand levels in major cities. 

“Meanwhile, just as in the sales market, there is still a cohort of renters looking for properties offering more space, or a more rural or coastal location.” 

*The methodology Zoopla has used to calculate affordability has changed from the last quarter; Zoopla is now using ASHE data, and previously used the Labour Force Survey.

Lorna Slater: Soaring rents in Lothian show need for controls

Soaring rents across Lothian demonstrate the need for a system of rent controls to be introduced, according to Scottish Greens Lothian MSP, Lorna Slater. 

New government statistics published this week show that between 2010 and 2021 the average rent for a 2 bedroom property in Lothian increased by 41.7%. This is the biggest increase anywhere in Scotland. 

The cooperation agreement between the Scottish Greens and the Scottish Government includes a commitment to introduce a new national system of rent controls. This will be part of a package of enhanced rights for tenants. 

.

Commenting, Lorna Slater MSP said: “Over the past decade, far too many tenants in Lothian and across the country have faced extreme rent rises.

“We simply cannot leave something as fundamental as people’s homes to market forces. I’m proud that with Greens in Government we will bring rent controls to Scotland as part of a fair deal for renters.” 

Clan Gordon voted Best Letting Agent in Scotland

Edinburgh Letting Agency Clan Gordon receives nationwide recognition at 2021 allAgents Awards  

A group of people posing for a photo Description automatically generated

At the 12 November allAgents Awards black tie event at the Queen’s Hotel in Leeds, Edinburgh letting agency Clan Gordon was named as ‘Best Lettings Agent in Edinburgh’, ‘Best Lettings Agent in Scotland’ and ‘Best Overall Agent in Edinburgh and Scotland’. 

The allAgents Awards are the UK’s Top Customer Property Review Awards and each winner is chosen through customer votes.

Amanda Lamb, property expert and allAgents Awards host said: “Coming from an estate agency background I know and appreciate just how important customer reviews are in this competitive industry and what receiving recognition from the industry’s very own ‘Tripadvisor’ will mean to the winning agencies.”

Clan Gordon’s Managing Director Jonathan Gordon said: “All awards are important but ones that are voted for by customers are the most valuable because they are a firm assurance that we’re getting things right.

“To beat all other estate and letting agents in the Edinburgh and Scotland categories to the overall title is an amazing achievement and the Clan Gordon team should be proud of the contribution they have made at an extremely difficult time.

“The pandemic posed huge problems for the property sector, but we met them head-on, quickly adapting to home working for our employees and installing a high-tech new telephone system to ensure customers were not adversely impacted.

“We also switched to virtual viewings and made sure our services continued safely within the guidelines issued by the government. This investment has been recognised with these awards and we are extremely proud of the achievement.” 

To find out more about Clan Gordon or to schedule a call visit:  

www.clangordon.co.uk