Helping landlords prepare for updated repairing standards

The Scottish Government has published new Statutory Guidance for Landlords on the Repairing Standard. Landlords will have one year to prepare for these requirements which come into force on 1 March 2024.

From 1 March next year all private rented properties in Scotland will need to have central heating, a kitchen with adequate space and facilities to prepare and store food.

The guidance brings together both existing and new duties included in the Repairing Standard with which private landlords will be required to comply from 1 March next year.

New duties cover kitchens, heating systems, common parts, and fuel supplies.

The revised Repairing Standard will include a requirement to have safely accessible food storage and food preparation space in private rented houses. Scottish landlords will also be required to provide a fixed heating system in their properties.

The guidance also covers the action landlords must already take to prevent damp and mould.

Housing Secretary Shona Robison said:

“Landlords have one year to meet our updated Repairing Standard, which will improve the condition of private rented property, make homes safer and ensure consistency between the social and private rented sectors.

“The majority of private landlords will already be meeting these standards. The guidance published today will help landlords better understand their responsibilities and ensure those who do need to carry out works can do so in advance of the 1 March 2024 deadline.

“All rented homes are required to meet standards that ensure they are free from damp and mould, and this guidance will help us to ensure this happens in the private rented sector.”

View the Scottish Government Repairing Standard Guidance 

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Private Landlords: Landlord Accreditation Scotland training webinars

Landlord Accreditation Scotland (LAS) is a voluntary scheme which helps landlords assure tenants that the tenancy arrangement they have adheres to the high standards as outlined in the Scottish Core Standards for Accredited Landlords. It is also a means quality landlords operating within these standards receive the recognition and support they deserve.

The standards were designed to be reasonable and realistic; landlords who already carry out good management practices will find themselves well on the way to achieving them. Once accredited, you are required to attend one of the LAS Core Standards training session annually.  Courses are available around the country throughout the year.

How to become and Accredited Landlord Today?

You can apply to become an accredited Landlord by completing the online form here or by requesting an application form from the LAS office.

Next Training Webinars

LAS continue to host training webinars to ensure landlords can hear how they can continue to manage their tenancies using best practice guidelines.  The next webinars to be held will be: 

• Understanding Landlord Repairing and Maintenance Obligations Webinar     15/11/22

• Safety Compliance and Certification for Private Rented Property Webinar        22/11/22

Private Landlord Registration Fees Increase

Our current landlord registration fees, set by the Scottish Government, are:

•             Principal fee: £67

•             Property fee: £15 (per let property)

•             Late application fee: £133

From 9 am on Friday 1 April 2022 the landlord registration fees will increase to:

•             Principal fee: £68

•             Property fee: £16 (per let property)

•             Late application fee: £137

To find out more about landlord registration, visit the Scottish Landlord Register website and our Private Landlord Registration website.

COVID-19 related rent arrears

Our Private Sector Team is looking to speak with Angus Registered Landlords who have tenant or tenants that have built up rent arrears between March 2020 and August 2021 as a direct result of the COVID-19 pandemic.

The team may be able to offer assistance and invite you to contact them at PRSenquiries@angus.gov.uk for further information.

Calling Private Landlords – Study into the Effects of the Pandemic

The University of Glasgow is carrying out research funded by UKRI (UK Research and Innovation) to understand how the COVID-19 pandemic has affected private landlords. Findings will be shared with stakeholders to support policy led decisions and the planning of resources to support both landlords and tenants.

The survey will take between 5 and 15 minutes. Please complete the survey by 18 July 2021.

Important Update for Private Sector Landlords

We recently sent an online survey to registered landlords about working together with us to provide housing for people with unmet housing needs and improve tenancy sustainment in the private sector.  

This survey was conducted in partnership with the national homelessness charity Crisis, and Aberdeenshire and Aberdeen City Councils.

We were delighted to receive a fantastic response from landlords across all three areas. 1725 landlords completed the survey, many leaving useful comments and suggestions, and over half expressing an interest in hearing more about this area of work in future.

The survey has helped us understand landlords’ opinions and needs for working together in future and as part of our rapid rehousing work, we have followed up on the findings.

We’ve heard loud and clear that landlords would like more support from us when they house one of our clients in urgent housing need, and would especially value a single point of contact. They told us they want to work together on benefit issues, and when a tenancy runs into problems.  They also told us that support for tenants themselves is key, where that is needed.

Following the feedback, we have recruited two new Private Sector Officers who will be a first point of contact for landlords in Angus. The Private Sector Officers will:

• Provide expert and comprehensive advice to private landlords and tenants in order to sustain tenancies and prevent homelessness
• Support households to search, apply, view and move into private rented housing, including assistance with raising a deposit, furniture and budgeting for rent payments
• Carry out ‘settling in’ visits and provide advice or support for any emerging issues
• Remain the first point of contact for the tenant and landlord, minimising the potential for tenancy breakdown and referring for additional support when required

Benefits for Landlords

• We can offer advice and support to you and your tenants as soon as issues are identified that may lead to the threat of eviction or homelessness
• We can offer a free tenant finder service to avoid properties sitting empty and reduce rent loss – we will assess tenants financial and support needs to check they are capable of affording and sustaining a tenancy.
• We can support the tenant to access a rent deposit and can offer ongoing support, advice and assistance to resolve any issues that may arise.
• We can help you access other services to help improve your property, e.g. support to access energy efficiency measures

If you would like to find out how we can support you and your tenants please contact: PRSenquiries@angus.gov.uk

What is the latest update on evictions?

On 17 May 2021, most of Scotland entered into Level 2 restrictions which meant the eviction ban which existed in Levels 3 and 4 areas was lifted and evictions can now be enforced on all social rented and private rented sector tenancies.

Before a landlord can start legal proceedings to evict, they must give the tenant notice and follow the correct procedures for eviction in accordance with the type of tenancy held by the tenant.

Amendments to The Coronavirus (Scotland) Act 2020 with the move into Level 2 within Scotland impacts on this process as follows:

• A Valid Notice to Leave or Notice to Quit expires (the notice period depends on the eviction ground).
• Within 6 months of expiration of the Notice to Leave or Notice to Quit the landlord can apply to the First Tier Tribunal for eviction.
• All eviction grounds are discretionary until 30 September 2021 therefore the First Tier Tribunal must consider if eviction is reasonable even if the ground exists.
• If an eviction order is granted, the tenant could be assessed as threatened with homelessness but would be advised not to leave until an alternative has been accommodation secured or an eviction order is enforced. It will typically take around 8 weeks for the decision of the First Tier Tribunal to be received by the landlord after the hearing.
• Once the decision is received and if the local authority is in Levels 1 or 2 the eviction order can be enforced and the landlord can take steps to enforce the eviction (this requirement is reviewed by the Scottish Government every 21 days and expected to remain in place until 30 September 2021).

For further information and support please contact: PRSenquiries@angus.gov.uk

New Private Tenancy Services from Safe Deposit Scotland

SDS Resolution is a free service operated by SafeDeposits Scotland and its aim is to help landlords and tenants to sustain tenancies and avoid the need for formal legal action.

They can deal with disputes relating to:

• Property standards
  
• Repairs
  
• Entry rights
  
• Rent arrears
  
• Threatened eviction
  
• Breach of tenancy terms
  
• Noise/antisocial behaviour (except serious antisocial activity).,
  

For more information see the SDS Resolution website

Safe & Sound service

This service has recently been launched with funding from the SafeDeposits Scotland Charitable Trust and has been introduced by Scottish charity Deaf Action to provide Scottish landlords and deaf tenants equal access to information and advice on the property rental market. Resources for tenants include BSL guidance videos, expert advice and interpreter access.

You can read full details about Safe & Sound on the Deaf Action website.-conflicts-tenants-tickets-149133

Private Landlord Registration fees increase

Our current landlord registration fees, set by Scottish Government, are:

• Principal fee: £66
  
• Property fee: £15 (per let property)
  
• Late application fee: £132
  

From 9 am on Thursday 1 April 2021 the landlord registration fees will increase to:

• Principal fee: £67
  
• Property fee: £15 (per let property) (no increase)
  
• Late application fee: £133
  

To find out more about landlord registration, visit our Private Landlord Registration website.

Private landlord survey – thank you for your response!

We recently sent an online survey to registered landlords about working together with us to provide housing for people in urgent need and improve tenancy sustainment in the private sector.

This survey was conducted in partnership with the national homelessness charity Crisis, and Aberdeenshire and Aberdeen City Councils.

We were delighted to receive a fantastic response from landlords across all three areas. 1725 landlords completed the survey, many leaving useful comments and suggestions, and over half expressing an interest in hearing more about this area of work in future.

Thank you so much to every landlord who took the time to inform our work, and ultimately to help people in urgent housing need in our local authority, at what is a very challenging time for all.

What happens next?

The survey has helped us understand landlords’ opinions and needs in relation to working together in future. As part of our rapid rehousing work, we are already following up on the findings.

Below you can find the survey results :

Landlord survey results for AngusDownload

Reminder: Private Landlords Survey – we want to hear from private landlords in Angus

There’s still time to complete our Private Landlord survey.

We’d like you to tell us what we could do to encourage and incentivise more landlords to work with us, to provide more homes for people who desperately need them and work together to reduce tenancy problems like arrears and neighbour nuisance.

Your responses will be collated and analysed by the national homelessness charity Crisis. The charity is working with us to improve housing options and support in the private rented sector.

If you have any questions or comments on this survey, please contact Lucie at Crisis: lucie.dunn@crisis.org.uk

Please help by completing the survey by 31 August.