Tag: landlords

“Challenging” tenants could lead to mass exodus from Edinburgh rental market

One in four landlords in Edinburgh are considering selling their rental properties due to problem tenants, with unpaid rent and damage running into thousands of pounds cited as the main problems. 

Continue reading “Challenging” tenants could lead to mass exodus from Edinburgh rental market

Scottish tenants risk losing homes as landlords feel pressure of new laws

350,000 Scottish tenants could be at risk of losing their homes as 90 percent of landlords say they will sell their rental properties if rising costs lead to them making a loss, according to a letting agent. Continue reading Scottish tenants risk losing homes as landlords feel pressure of new laws

Home truths: Edinburgh’s housing stock depleted by short-term lets

Capital-ism: Edinburgh landlords fill their boots while waiting lists grow longer

More than 30 landlords are operating lucrative short term letting businesses in Scotland’s capital, a new report reveals, adding to the pressure on Edinburgh’s housing stock.  Continue reading Home truths: Edinburgh’s housing stock depleted by short-term lets

Lothian landlord event to “reduce perils” of new tenancy agreements

Scotland’s largest landlord membership organisation, in partnership with the Scottish Government, will be holding an information event for Edinburgh and Lothians landlords to understand their new responsibilities when a new tenancy agreement for the Private Rented Sector (PRS) comes in to force in December. 

The event, which is free and open to anyone who lets out property, takes place at Queen Margaret University on Tuesday 24 October from 6pm – 8.30pm. Continue reading Lothian landlord event to “reduce perils” of new tenancy agreements

As simple as ABC: renters at risk from carbon monoxide poisoning

  • One in three renters do not have a life-saving carbon monoxide (CO) alarm in their home
  • Four in five renters felt it was their landlord’s responsibility to provide a CO alarm in their property
  • Government urged to go further to protect tenants from co poisoning
  • Nearly half of renters in Leeds do not have a CO alarm
  • Protect yourself and your family by following the ABC guide – Do you have an Alarm fitted? Have you tested it and are the Batteries working? Have you had an up to date gas Check?

New research for the ‘Carbon Monoxide Be Alarmed!’ campaign has revealed that almost a third of renters in the UK do not have a life-saving CO alarm in their property, with four in five unaware that it is their responsibility – and not their landlord’s – to provide one. Continue reading As simple as ABC: renters at risk from carbon monoxide poisoning

Tenants and landlords to benefit from new regulations

Letting agents have six months to meet requirements of statutory code

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Letting agents have six months to prepare for compliance with a new, statutory Code of Practice, set to improve standards and empower customers. Housing Minister Kevin Stewart is writing to all commercial letting agents to highlight the changes and their responsibilities, and the need to comply by January 31 2018.

The code sets out standards that must be met in how letting agents deliver services. It includes specific requirements on how clients’ money should be handled. It also makes it compulsory to have Client Money Protection and Professional Indemnity Insurance.

Landlords and tenants can use the code to challenge poor practice and, if necessary, enforce it through the new First-tier Tribunal for Scotland (Housing and Property Chamber). Letting agents will be required to join the Scottish Government’s mandatory register of letting agents, and key individuals in agencies must meet a minimum level of training.

 Mr Stewart said:   “We are committed to ensuring the highest quality private rented sector, which empowers tenants. Our framework for regulation, and the need for the sector to meet key standards and expectations through the code, is an important step in achieving our ambitions.

“Many letting agents already do a great deal to continuously improve standards and inspire confidence amongst landlords and tenants. The introduction of the code means a level playing field for all and ensures clarity on rights, responsibilities and expectations.

“For many people private renting provides a place to call home, and they deserve the necessary standards and protections to find and keep that home. With six months until the code comes into force letting agents must take steps now to be ready for these new ways of working.”

The Scottish Government has developed a guide for those undertaking letting agency work to assist them in meeting the requirements for registration. It is available at:

https://www.mygov.scot/letting-agent-registration/

Continue reading Tenants and landlords to benefit from new regulations

Homing in on private renting

Shortage of private-rented accommodation likely to worsen, says new report 

to let

Over 40% of people who have tried to find private-rented accommodation in Scotland in the last five years have found it difficult to do so, according to a new poll. 

The poll found that 23% of respondents had tried to find accommodation in the private rented sector (PRS) in the previous five years and, out of those people, 43% had found it “Quite Difficult” or “Very Difficult” to find a suitable property.

The Scottish Association of Landlords (SAL) and the Council of Letting Agents (CLA), who jointly commissioned the poll, believes the figures indicate a shortage of supply in the private rented sector which is likely to become worse in the coming years.

SAL and the CLA, representing landlords and lettings agents across Scotland, would like to see the Scottish Government address this shortage by creating an environment which encourages investment in the PRS, whilst driving up standards and ensuring value for money for tenants. 

John Blackwood, Chief Executive of the Scottish Association of Landlords said: “Although the PRS in Scotland sometimes has a poor reputation, this poll shows that significant number of people are trying to access the market and that many of them are not able to find suitable accommodation.

“We are acutely aware of the need to introduce measures which protect tenants from poor treatment by landlords and letting agents and will work with all parties to drive these rogue companies and individuals out of the sector.  At the same time, however, it is important to take measures which encourage investment in the PRS.

“Landlords and letting agents must be given the confidence to invest in the housing sector as well as be encouraged to refurbish properties and make them available for rent.  They needed to be able to evict tenants who indulge in anti-social behaviour or repossess properties that have been abandoned to so that properties can be let to responsible tenants looking for accommodation and help meet the increased demand.”

Shelter Scotland launched their ‘Make Renting Right’ campaign last October. The charity wants to see a private rented sector that’s fit for purpose, working both for people who live in rented housing and landlords who let out their properties.

Shelter is calling for:

  • Stability for people wanting to make rented housing their home.
  • Flexibility for people to stay in their home as long as they need.
  • A modern tenancy that gives security and flexibility for tenants AND landlords.
  • A fair system for sorting out renting problems when they occur.
  • Predictable rents for tenants and landlords.

In their latest report published last month, Shelter Scotland noted a sharp rise in the percentage of all homeless applications coming from the private rented sector.

‘Homelessness in Scotland 2014 – Getting Behind the Statistics‘ was released following analysis of the latest Scottish Government’s annual homelessness figures. The report acknowledges that, while there has been progress, the headline statistics don’t tell the full story.

Shelter’s report paints a picture of the changing shape of homelessness in Scotland:

  • A worrying trend showing 18% of all homeless applications now come from the private rented sector, a proportionate rise of 38% in the last five years. 18% of all homeless applications is also disproportionate to the sector’s size, which is 13% of all housing.
  • the number of people who gave ‘long-term roofless’ as their previous housing circumstance rose by 24%
  • the number of households found intentionally homeless by their local authority had risen
  • the proportion of homeless applications from single people over 25 years old is rising compared with other age groups
  • youth homelessness is at 13.7 per 1,000

 

Communities to benefit from social housing reforms

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Social tenants and landlords are set to benefit from a number of reforms announced yesterday  by Housing Minister Margaret Burgess. The reforms will  change the way social landlords allocate and manage their housing. They will allow social landlords to address the specific needs of the local community, ensuring best use of available social housing, tackling antisocial behaviour  and providing further protection for tenants.

Speaking at the Scottish Federation of Housing Associations’ Annual Conference, the Housing Minister outlined the measures, which are likely to form part of a forthcoming Housing Bill.

This includes:

  • Replacing prescriptive and outdated priority groups with a broader framework that gives landlords and their communities more local flexibility
  • Allowing landlords to consider any property that a social housing applicant already owns when allocating housing
  • Introducing a qualifying period before succession to a tenancy following the death of a tenant
  • Allowing a minimum period to be put in place before antisocial tenants are eligible for the allocation of social housing
  • Introducing a new right for tenants to appeal a landlord’s decision to suspend them from being allocated a property
  • Allowing landlords to give Short Scottish Secure Tenancies to applicants and tenants with a history of antisocial behaviour
  • Simplifying eviction procedures for tenants convicted of a serious offence

During the SFHA Conference Mrs Burgess also announced that initial or probationary tenancies will not be included in the Housing Bill.

She said:

“The changes I am announcing today will ensure that we deliver first-rate homes and services to tenants, residents and homeless people – the most vulnerable in our society. By giving landlords greater flexibility at a local level they will be able to respond to the needs of their local community.

“In order to provide affordable warm homes for people in Scotland it is vital that we continue to find ways to increase supply and quality across all tenures. Despite Westminster’s cuts to our capital budget, we have taken every opportunity to increase our investment in housing. By the end of April we had allocated £200m additional funding for housing supply, bringing total investment to almost £860m in the three years to March 2015.”

Home to Stay

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HOME TO STAY PUBLIC MEETING

Thursday 13 June

We want private tenants to feel secure in their homes, and not be forced out of their houses without due cause. Currently, tenants can be asked to leave without reason, even if they have been good tenants. This leaves many unable to plan for the future, or generally feel secure in their homes. And many tenants won’t report repairs or bad practices for fear of being kicked out. ‘Home to stay’ is a grass-roots campaign to abolish the insecure ‘short assured tenancies’ in Scotland.
Join us for a public meeting:
Thursday 13th June, 7-9pm
Augustine United Church
George 4th Bridge
Speakers:
Tenants telling their stories about the lack of security in the private rented sector; Shelter Scotland; National Union of Students Scotland;  Edinburgh Private Tenants Action Group.
Read about first hand accounts of how insecurity affects private tenants, and submit your own stories here:
Twitter: @eptag
Edinburgh Private Tenants Action Group