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

New Fire Alarm Regulations – help for those who own their home

The law on fire alarms has changed which means that all Scottish homes need to have interlinked alarms. Interlinked means if one goes off, they all go off, giving people more time to escape and call emergency services.

Angus Care & Repair have some funding available to help home owners with the costs of the new alarms. To be eligible for support from Care & Repair Scotland, you must live in and own your home that has a Council Tax banding of A-C. You must also either be of state pension age and in receipt of guaranteed Pension Credit or have a disability and be in a support group for Employment and Support Allowance.

If you meet the criteria, then please contact Angus Care & Repair by email at anguscr@caledoniaha.co.uk

Alternatively, if you do not meet these criteria then you may be able to get some advice and assistance from the Scottish Fire Service. For more information see the Fire Scotland website.

We do not offer any funding to support with the installation of alarms, and all enquiries relating to this should be made direct to Angus Care & Repair and/or the Scottish Fire Service.

2019/20 Landlord Data Now Available on Regulator’s Website

The Scottish Housing Regulator has published the latest data received from Scottish social landlords, including ourselves.

This includes:

• National analysis
• Performance information – including landlord reports, a comparison tool and live data tables

This year, the comparison tool has been enhanced to make it more accessible and easier to use for people using different devices and assistive technologies such as laptops, mobile phones, tablets and screen readers.

Our Annual Assurance Statement 2020

Under the Regulatory Framework, we must submit an Annual Assurance Statement to the Scottish Housing Regulator every year. We also must publish it so tenants and service users can see it.

Our statement was approved at Communities Committee on 20 September and states that the Committee, which is our governing body, is assured we meet all statutory requirements.

Guide to Social Housing Regulation by the Scottish Housing Regulator

The Scottish Housing Regulator (SHR) recently published a short guide called:

‘How we regulate: a guide for tenants and service users.’

This short, summary guide lets people know more about:

• who SHR are and what they do,
• what tenants can expect from a social landlord,
• how tenants can find out about their landlord’s performance; and
• how to raise a concern about a social landlord.

Watch the videos about the SHR and how to raise a concern about a social landlord :

 

Our Housing Performance Report 2018 – 19

We have produced a Report Card which lets you know how our Housing services performed last year against the standards set by the Scottish Housing Regulator in the Scottish Social Housing Charter.

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The Report Card was prepared after consultation with our Tenants Steering Group to ensure we have reported the performance our tenants think is most important.

The Report Card is available on the our website now.

Our Annual Assurance Statement for 2019/20

Under the Regulatory Framework, we must submit an Annual Assurance Statement to the Scottish Housing Regulator by 31 October every year. We also must publish it so tenants and service users can see it.

Our statement was approved at Communities Committee this week and states that the Committee, which is our governing body, is assured we meet all statutory requirements.

 

Preventing Fires in Stairwells

We were all shocked by the recent fire at Lordburn Place in Forfar, which was reported in the local press. We’re asking all Council tenants to promote fire safety in and around blocks of flats.

 We take the issue of fire safety very seriously and we want to ensure that tenants and their families are as safe as possible from the dangers of smoke and fire.

Common parts of any shared premises are particularly vulnerable if rubbish is allowed to build up in stairwells.

How you can prevent a fire in your block 

• Do not store rubbish or flammable materials in communal areas.
• Report any build up of such materials immediately to ACCESSLine.
• Keep fire exits and escape routes clear. This could either be a door leading from your home, a balcony walkway or shared landing or staircase. The hall may be the only way out of your home so make sure there is nothing in the way that might slow you down in an emergency.
• Be aware of your nearest fire exits.
• Do not wedge fire doors open.

In the event of a fire

• Call the fire service on 999.
• Use the stairs, not a lift.
• If you are trapped, close the door of your room and use bedding or clothes to block up any gaps under the door that might let in smoke or fumes.
• Shout ‘FIRE’ from the window and tell people to call the fire service.                                                                                                                                          

  What we do to keep flat occupants safe

• We inspect our blocks of flats on a regular basis to identify and report any issues for priority repair – we will take action against anyone who endangers the safety of occupants of blocks by dumping rubbish in stairwells

• We work with Scottish Fire and Rescue Service to ensure our blocks of flats are as safe as possible, carrying out regular fire risk audits.

• We carry out Fire Risk Assessments in all communal areas to ensure our blocks meet the highest possible fire standards.
  

If you have any concerns regarding the safety of your building,

 contact your local housing team

on ACCESSLine 03452 777 778

  

 

 

 

Calling All Private Landlords! Have Your Say on Energy Efficiency!

The Scottish Government is consulting on the minimum energy efficiency standards for the private rented sector.

This is your chance to have your say. The proposed minimum standards will be:

• EPC E for new lets from April 2020, and all properties with a minimum EPC rating E by April 2022
• EPC D for new lets from April 2022, and all properties minimum EPC rating D by April 2025

If your private rented property does not meet EPC band E then you may be required to bring it up to standard within the set timeframe.

You can also find advice and information about private sector housing, such as your rights and responsibilities as a tenant, landlord or homeowner at our new private housing pages.