Tag: Shelter Scotland

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.

Shelter Scotland shops opening up to receive donations

Selected Shelter Scotland charity shops are set to open their doors next week to accept donations ahead of opening to the public on April 26th.

The first wave of stores opening up for public donations (on 12th April from Monday to Friday) are as follows:

  • Forrest Road (39 Forrest Road, Edinburgh, EH1 2QP)
  • Morningside (104 Morningside Road, Edinburgh, EH10 4BY)
  • Stockbridge (104 Raeburn Place, Stockbridge, Edinburgh, EH4 1HH)
  • Stockwell Street (Granite House, 37-43 Stockwell Street, Glasgow, G1 4RZ)
  • Botanics (679 Great Western Road, Glasgow, G12 8RA)
  • Paisley (6 High Street, Paisley, PA1 2DQ)

All other Scottish shops will be accepting donations from 21st April when the teams return to work.

Alison Watson, Director of Shelter Scotland, said: “Like so many other charities, the pandemic has been tough on our fundraising efforts, so we are delighted to announce today that some of our much-loved shops will be opening up next week in order to receive donations from the public.

“The hope is that people will have spent a least a little time during lockdown doing something of a spring clean and they may have a bag or two of unwanted items that we’d love for them to donate to us. We are fighting every day to end Scotland’s housing crisis and the public’s support for our shops up and down the country is a vital part of that fight.”

Edinburgh Sleep Walk for Shelter Scotland

Shelter Scotland invites you to join our very first Sleep Walk in Edinburgh, an informal, moderate walk through the city to raise awareness of homelessness, bad housing and the housing emergency in Edinburgh and across Scotland. Continue reading Edinburgh Sleep Walk for Shelter Scotland

Life on the Streets: Shelter report sheds light on begging in Edinburgh

 

Hard-hitting new research into begging in Edinburgh has been published by the Edinburgh Community Safety Partnership along with charity Shelter Scotland.
Continue reading Life on the Streets: Shelter report sheds light on begging in Edinburgh

Council backs renting reform campaign

“In the 21st century, we need a private rented sector that is modern, stable, flexible, predictable and fair for those individuals and families that call it home” – Graeme Brown, Shelter Scotland

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The City of Edinburgh Council has signed its support for a national campaign calling for fair rent for all.

Leader Councillor Andrew Burns and Deputy Leader Councillor Sandy Howat put their names to Shelter Scotland’s Make Renting Right campaign, which aims to make Scotland’s growing private rented sector fit for the 59,000 households in the capital that rent privately.

The campaign complements existing work between the Council and private landlords, which includes giving advice about what they must do by law, and how they can resolve problems with tenants. They are also legally required to register with the local authority by law and apply and comply with specific licences.

Councillor Burns said: “The Council has given its full backing to Making Rent Right because we are committed to housing people in high quality and affordable homes, which is a vital step in our battle against poverty.

“Renters are entitled to be treated fairly and while the majority of landlords do so, too many people are still experiencing the opposite. This campaign is a great step towards protecting them.”

Councillor Howat said: “We are delighted to support such an important and worthwhile campaign. Thousands of people rent in this city for many reasons, with many of them doing so by choice, and ensuring that they can do so safely and at a fair price is vital.

“The Capital Coalition is committed to providing affordable homes and will continue to work closely with our partners in order to do so.”

Graeme Brown, Director of Shelter Scotland, said: “We are pleased that the City of Edinburgh Council has joined our calls for a better private rented sector for tenants and landlords.

“Along with the council, we want to see a private rented sector that is fit for families and protects all tenants – a sector that provides long-term homes, not short-term housing.

“Too often we hear of people being moved on, evicted or rents increased unreasonably, forcing people into the disruptive cycle of having to move house – every six months in some cases – preventing them from ever being able to put down strong roots and being part of a community.

“In the 21st century, we need a private rented sector that is modern, stable, flexible, predictable and fair for those individuals and families that call it home.”

Pictured (L-R): Matt Lock, Hubs Manager for Shelter Scotland; Fiona King, Shelter’s Campaigns and Public Affairs Manager; Deputy Leader Councillor Sandy Howat; Leader Councillor Andrew Burns; Adam Lang, Shelter’s Head of Communications and Policy.

 

Clear out those unwanted clothes

A Spring clean could support charities

casual clothing

£2.4 billion worth of unworn and unwanted clothing is lining Scotland’s wardrobes and could instead be used to help vulnerable people across the country, according to housing charity Shelter.

They say the average household has up to £1,000 worth of clothes that have not been worn for at least a year, most often because they no longer fit.

Shelter is encouraging people across Scotland to rummage through wardrobes, drawers, cupboards and attics and donate any unwanted items to one of their shops to help support the fight against bad housing and homelessness.

Last year 36,457 households made homeless applications to their local council in Scotland. Meanwhile, 150,500 households are currently on waiting lists for a home of their own.

Graeme Brown, Director of Shelter Scotland, said: “The total cost of unworn clothes is a staggering £2.4 billion in Scotland. Even a very small fraction of that could help Shelter Scotland to continue our fight against bad housing and homelessness.

“It costs just £10 for one of our expert advisors to help a family or individual at risk of losing their home – we can raise that money by selling an unwanted jumper or pair shoes. £45 is enough to train an advisor to protect children at risk, and that money could be raised from selling an unwanted winter coat that’s taking up space in someone’s wardrobe.

“We hope that the people of Scotland will continue to support us, because without their help and generosity our fight to end bad housing and homelessness would be so much harder.”

Research by WRAP shows that the annual footprints of a household’s new and existing clothing are equivalent to the weight of over 100 pairs of jeans or the water needed to fill over 1,000 bathtubs.

WRAP says that extending the average life of clothes by just three months, such as donating them to charity, would lead to a 5-10% reduction in each of the carbon, water and waste footprints.

It is estimated that £140 million worth (350,000 tonnes) of used clothing goes to landfill in the UK every year – clothes which Shelter Scotland says could be donated to charity.

Graeme Brown added: “We’ve all got clothes we no longer wear or need. If every person in Scotland donated just one item to a Shelter Scotland shop it would make a world of difference. Shelter Scotland believes that everybody deserves a home. Our work won’t stop until there’s a home for everyone.”

Sold! Celebs to help Shelter raise funds in online auction

gavel

TOP celebrities – including Olly Murs, Alan Carr, Chrissie Hynde and Plan B – have raided their wardrobes to donate some of their fashion favourites for an online pop-up shop in aid of charity Shelter Scotland.

Fans of music, fashion and comedy will have a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to bid on signature items including an Olly Murs signed trilby hat and Chrissie Hynde’s Stella McCartney boots.

Other items include an Alexander McQueen jacket worn by comedian Alan Carr, fashionista Louise Roe’s 2013 Emmy’s red carpet dress, and a dress worn by former EastEnders actress Jo Joyner in her role as Tanya Branning.

Pop star and TV presenter, Olly Murs, said: “I’ve donated one of my trilby hats to Shelter Scotland this summer. It’s a great charity so get bidding guys!”

EastEnders actress, Jo Joyner, said: “Taking a bag of pre-loved clothes to a Shelter Scotland shop is a fantastic way to help a great cause. Shelter Scotland has never needed your support more, so I’m proud to donate my dress. Let the bidding commence!”

The online auction will open on Shelter Scotland’s website from 9.00pm on Tuesday 23 July and bidding will end at 9pm on Sunday 28 July.

Shelter Scotland is urging members of the public to take inspiration from its celebrity supporters and donate their own pre-loved clothes, home wares or books to their nearest Shelter Scotland shop, where every penny raised goes towards helping families and individuals facing homelessness and bad housing.

Graeme Brown, Director of Shelter Scotland, said: “We’re so grateful to our celebrity friends for their outpouring of support and hope the public will get behind us too and donate any old or unwanted items to their nearest Shelter Scotland shop.

“It costs just £10 for one of our experienced housing advisors to help a family in need through our free national helpline. We can raise that money by selling an unwanted dress, jumper or pair of shoes. No donation is too small and every penny will go towards helping people in housing need.”

Shelter Scotland helps over half a million people a year in Scotland struggling with bad housing and homelessness. The charity’s free national helpline receives over 60 calls per day from desperate families and individuals. Shelter Scotland says this represents a 43% increase over three years, up from 42 calls per day in 2008/09.

Graeme Brown added: “We have never needed the public’s support more, and are relying on their kindness and generosity to ensure that we can continue to offer vital services to people who desperately need our help.

“Unlike our famous friends, your donations don’t have to include a designer label. Whether they’re as good as new or have seen better days – all donations are welcome. There’s no easier way to help people across Scotland who are facing homelessness or living in bad housing.”

Everyone who donates to a Shelter Scotland shop between Monday 15th and Saturday 27th July can enter a free prize draw to win one of five Fujitsu tablet PCs. The charity has also recently launched a new donation loyalty card. Each donation of stock will be rewarded with a stamp, with those collecting five stamps being rewarded with a £5 discount to spend in store.

Shelter Scotland has over 40 shops across Scotland, selling a range of good quality new and second-hand clothes, books, home wares and specialist items.

The online auction can be accessed via www.shelter.org.uk/sheltershops and will be open for bids from 9pm on Tuesday 23 July – 9pm on Sunday 28 July.

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TIPping point – Tenant Information Packs launched

Tenants and landlords in the private rented sector are to benefit from a new Tenant Information Pack (TIP) which will improve access to information on renting and help ensure that accommodation is good quality and well managed.

Launched by Minister for Housing and Welfare Margaret Burgess yesterday, landlords have a legal duty to provide the TIP to new tenants. The easy to read document, which has been made available on the Scottish Government website, contains a summary of legislation relevant to private tenants and landlords.

During a public consultation on its introduction, the TIP received broad cross-sector support as a means of providing consistent and reliable information to tenants, and the TIP will be reviewed on a regular basis to ensure that it provides an accurate, user friendly, summary of housing law.

The launch of the pack is supported by a new website which offers practical renting guides for tenants and landlords in Scotland’s private rented sector. Funded by the Scottish Government, the Renting Scotland website has been created by Shelter Scotland and industry partners and contains key tenant and landlord information on renting in the private rented sector.

Mrs Burgess said: “The Tenant Information Pack provides vital information for tenants and landlords in an easy-to-read format. There is already a lot of good information available to tenants and the pack is not intended to replace existing material, but to create a benchmark for information available across the whole sector.

“The introduction of the pack will contribute towards ensuring that the private rented sector provides good quality and well managed accommodation, where both landlords and tenants understand their respective rights and responsibilities. The Renting Scotland website, which went live today, is another important form of support, offering crucial advice to tenants and landlords.”

A spokesperson for the Scottish Association of Landlords said: “We are encouraged by the possibility offered by the Tenant Information Pack to improve and maintain landlord-tenant relationships. The pack is a helpful resource which will raise awareness of both landlord and tenant rights and responsibilities.”

Graeme Brown, Director of Shelter Scotland, said: “The introduction of the Tenant Information Pack by the Scottish Government is a positive step forward for tenants and landlords alike, who will be clear on their rights and responsibilities from the day a tenant moves in. By improving access to key information, Tenant Information Packs will build trust and respect on both sides. It will help avoid problems at an early stage and empower tenants as consumers should something go wrong.

“An informed tenant is a good tenant, and likewise a landlord who is aware of their rights and responsibilities can better manage their property to anticipate and avoid problems, allowing both parties to get off to a good start.”

flats

 

New protection for tenants’ deposits comes into force

Housing Minister Keith Brown today confirmed that a compulsory scheme to safeguard rent deposits for households in Scotland has come into force. Deposits amount to more than £75 million in the majority of the 273,000 households that make up the private rented sector in Scotland.

The tenancy deposit scheme will be free for landlords and letting agents to participate in, and ensure that landlords can legitimately access deposits where justified.

Tenants will no longer have to take legal action to seek recovery of a wrongly withheld deposit. This will mean that tenants will have access to a free and independent dispute resolution service, where agreement over the return of a deposit cannot be agreed by the tenant and landlord.

SafeDeposits Scotland, Letting Protection Service Scotland and Mydeposits Scotland will take deposits from landlords or their agents for safekeeping and provide information about the tenancy, the deposit and the scheme to the tenant.

Landlords can submit deposits to schemes from July 2 voluntarily, if they wish. However, by law, they will need to submit deposits to an approved scheme from between November 2012 to May 2013, depending on when the tenancy started.

Keith Brown said: “The Scottish Government has estimated that between 8,000 and 11,000 tenants annually have £3.6 million of their deposits wrongly withheld. These new regulations are historic because they offer, for the first time, a fair, cost effective approach that safeguards tenancy deposits. It is important to stress that the majority of landlords behave responsibly. This legislation is aimed at tackling those who continue to tarnish the image of the private rented sector.”

Graeme Brown, Director of Shelter Scotland, said: “Monday 2 July starts the clock ticking towards the point when all tenants’ deposits will be protected by law in Scotland.  Shelter Scotland has been campaigning for this scheme for eight years now and we are delighted to see it becoming law. But it will only work properly if tenants are diligent and know their rights and landlords and agents embrace the scheme fully. Then and only then, will the unfair withholding of millions of pounds from deposits by landlords and agents be a thing of the past, as will the hardship it causes to tenants. Our hope is that the tenancy deposit scheme achieves a transparent and fair system for all.”

Robin Parker, President of NUS Scotland, said: “This is a great day for tenants and good for landlords. We’ve worked for many years to get better protection for tenants in private flats and houses, including of course the tens of thousands of students who live in the private rented sector. Too often we’ve heard of deposits being withheld or deducted unfairly by a few unscrupulous landlords, and the tenancy deposit schemes launched today should go a long way to putting an end to this.”

Marieke Dwarshuis, Director at Consumer Focus Scotland said: “Getting a deposit back has often been an uphill struggle for many tenants in the private rented sector and we have championed the need for better protections for years. “The new safe house for deposits and the independent dispute resolution service are great news for tenants and will ensure there is a fair, clear and efficient system in place for everybody concerned. “The key to success now is to ensure tenants and landlords are informed about the scheme and everyone clearly understands what their rights and responsibilities are.”