Tag: tenants

Extra protection for tenants

Private and social tenants will be given increased protection from eviction during the coronavirus pandemic.

Emergency legislation will increase the minimum notice period for private and social tenants to up to six months depending on the grounds used, helping to protect them from eviction.

The Coronavirus (Scotland) Bill, to be introduced to the Scottish Parliament on 31 March, will contain substantial further powers and measures to ensure essential public services can continue throughout the coronavirus outbreak.

Constitution Secretary Michael Russell said: “Our lives are being affected as we all play our part in trying to slow the spread of coronavirus and follow the essential public health advice to stay at home.

“For some households and businesses there will be financial difficulties ahead and that could include struggling to pay the rent.

“While all tenants experiencing issues with rent arrears should firstly explain their circumstances to their landlords, this new emergency legislation will provide an important backstop to prevent evictions and relieve the financial pressure people may be facing.

“We are also encouraging all landlords to be as flexible as possible during this unprecedented time and would urge them to also seek assistance if necessary by speaking to their lenders about mortgage breaks.

“This bill will provide substantial additional emergency powers to help the justice system, public services and the economy to cope. These measures, which will be strictly limited to the duration of the outbreak, are absolutely necessary to help us all through the coming months.

“The Scottish Government welcomes the very positive all-party discussions that have allowed this legislation to be drafted so quickly. These new measures will help us all as we work to tackle the virus.”

SNP MSP Gordon MacDonald has welcomed the Scottish Government announcement that private and social tenants in Edinburgh are to be given increased protection from eviction during the coronavirus pandemic.

Emergency legislation will increase the minimum notice period for private and social tenants to up to six months depending on the grounds used, helping to protect them from eviction.

The Coronavirus (Scotland) Bill, which contains substantial further powers and measures to ensure essential public services can continue throughout the coronavirus outbreak, will be introduced in the Scottish Parliament tomorrow (Tuesday).

SNP MSP Gordon MacDonald said: “We must all work together to meet this challenge, which is why measures to prevent evictions and relieve some of the financial pressure people in Edinburgh may be facing due to the coronavirus crisis are welcome. 

“The Scottish Government has also encouraged all landlords to be as flexible as possible during this unprecedented time, and I would urge them to also seek assistance if necessary by speaking to their lenders about mortgage breaks.

“No-one should face losing their home as a result of this coronavirus pandemic. The move to ban evictions during this crisis will bring security to people’s lives when they need it most.”

“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

North Edinburgh’s good neighbours commended at awards ceremony

North Edinburgh trio go the extra mile to support their neighbours

Neighbours who go that extra mile have been thanked at the City of Edinburgh Council’s second Good Neighbour Awards for their commitment to making the lives of their neighbours better and improving their local community.  Continue reading North Edinburgh’s good neighbours commended at awards ceremony

Social housing in Scotland: latest statistics

Scotland’s Chief Statistician has released Social Tenants in Scotland 2016, the second annual statistical compendium publication on social tenants and social rented housing in Scotland. The report covers topic areas such as stock, household characteristics, housing flows, and rents and income levels. Continue reading Social housing in Scotland: latest statistics

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

Housing: city council plots the way ahead

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The city council has set out plans on the delivery of a ‘new-look’ housing strategy which aims to significantly increase the number of affordable homes in the city from 3,000 to 8,000 and accelerate investment in the services that will reduce tenants’ cost of living. Continue reading Housing: city council plots the way ahead

Union concerns for tenants’ safety as service faces cuts

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UNISON’s Edinburgh branch is warning that cuts to the council’s Private Rented Service Team could threaten safer housing for private tenants and lose the council hundreds of thousands in income. Continue reading Union concerns for tenants’ safety as service faces cuts

Edinburgh’s top, say tenants

Edinburgh tenants have given Council housing in the city a vote of confidence in a new survey. Over 1000 Council tenants took part in the survey, which showed that satisfaction ratings are among the highest of any similar landlord in the UK.

Of those questioned, 89% were satisfied with the quality of their home, giving Edinburgh the highest score among similar landlords. 90% of participants responded that they are happy with the housing service they receive and only 4% responded that they are dissatisfied.  Satisfaction levels with key services, customer care and engagement were either equal to or higher than other large landlords in the UK.

Neighbourhoods were also rated highly with 92% of tenants stating that they are happy with their neighbourhoods and only 2% were not.

Housing Convener, Councillor Ricky Henderson, said: “This feedback from tenants reinforces the high reputation of the Council’s housing service and is a real vote of confidence.

“The Scottish Housing Regulator has already awarded our housing service the highest grade of any local authority, so it is encouraging to see that our tenants are also satisfied with their homes and the service they receive.”

The Council has worked closely with Edinburgh Tenants Federation in designing the survey. Both organisations will work together to develop an action for any necessary improvements identified from the results.

Betty Stevenson, Convener of Edinburgh Tenants Federation, said: “The Federation has been closely involved in developing the survey and we are pleased with the results showing high satisfaction. We will be working with the Council to make sure that any identified improvements are put in place.”

Do you agree with those survey results? Are you saisfied with the city council’s housing service? Let us know!

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