Posts with tag: Scottish landlords

Scottish Government provides new regulations for landlords

Published On: September 8, 2017 at 9:58 am

Tags: landlords in Scotland,Scotland,Scottish landlords

New landlord registration enforcement guidelines have been issued by the Scottish Government, to all local authorities informing them on regulating landlords in the private rented sector.

The Landlord Registration Statutory Guidance highlights best practice in order to assist local authorities to regulate the system effectively. This also requires councils to maintain a register of private landlords, ensuring that only those deemed as ‘fit and proper’ are put on the register.

Private Rental Sector

Kevin Stewart, Minister for Local Government and Housing, noted: ‘The private rented sector plays an increasingly important role in Scotland’s housing system. Around 760,000 people in Scotland live in privately rented homes – twice the number of ten years ago.’

Scottish Government provides new regulations for landlords

‘I want to see a sector that is characterised by more good quality homes, being managed professionally and where tenants feel secure. Where there are poor standards, local authorities should be taking tough, targeted enforcement to ensure every landlord is fit for purpose.’

‘I would like to encourage all local authorities to use this guidance and examples of best practice to raise standards in the sector and ensure greater consistency in enforcement across Scotland,’ he concluded.[1]

[1] https://www.landlordtoday.co.uk/breaking-news/2017/9/new-guidance-to-regulate-who-can-operate-as-a-private-landlord

Demand for property in Scotland stays strong

Published On: May 8, 2017 at 11:52 am

Author: Em Morley

Categories: Property News

Tags: landlords,property prices in Scotland,Scotland,Scottish landlords

New figures from a leading property consultancy in Scotland have further underlined the fact that demand for property in the country is strong.

The Registers of Scotland report for January-March 2017 shows that the volume of residential property sales north of the border rose by 3.4%. In addition, the total value of sales across Scotland increased by 5.5% in comparison to the same quarter in 2016.

Sales

Traditionally, the winter months are a less favourable period in which to sell property. However, the increase in sales reported by Registers of Scotland indicates that buyer demand stayed fairly constant in the opening quarter of the year.

Another report from CKD Galbraith underlines this trend, with residential property sales up by 7% over the last quarter, compared to 2016. This equates to £47m of property sales being handled by the firm during the period.

Over the same timeframe, the firm recorded a 57% increase in property viewings and a 49% rise in applicant registrations. Demand continues to outstrip the demand of properties coming onto the market.

Demand for property in Scotland stays strong

Benefits

Simon Brown, partner and head of residential sales at CKD Galbraith, noted: ‘Our figures mirror the last Registers of Scotland report and reflect the fact that sellers now reap the benefits of a twelve month market. Looking ahead over the next quarter we expect to see a number of changes to the Scottish property market.’[1]

‘As is typically the case in general election years, we anticipate that the uncertainty caused may well slow the property market down in the weeks leading up to 8th June. The market will, we believe, pick up again and continue growing once the dust has settled,’ Mr Brown added.[1]

[1] https://www.propertyinvestortoday.co.uk/breaking-news/2017/5/strong-demand-for-property-in-scotland

New digital landlord registration system in Scotland goes live

Published On: February 14, 2017 at 2:27 pm

Author: Em Morley

Categories: Landlord News

Tags: Buy-to-Let,landlords,Registers of Scotland,Scottish landlords

A new digital application for a live register of landlords has ben launched in Scotland.

This application will make it much easier for anyone to search the public register of landlords, for landlords to apply for or renew their registration and for local authorities to update the register.

Register

Developed by Registers of Scotland for the Scottish Government, the application is in tune with Government digital standards and can be accessed using a Smartphone, tablet or computer.

Kevin Stewart, minister for local Government and housing, said: ‘This new application provides a better and more accessible service for those who need to use it. Crucially, it will reduce the time that local authority staff need to spend administering the system, freeing them up to target those landlords who either don’t or won’t comply with the landlord registration requirements. That will help to improve standards for the 700,000 people whose home is in the private rented sector.’[1]

‘I am delighted by the collaboration between Registers of Scotland, the Scottish Government and local authorities on this project, and am grateful for the hard work of those who worked on it, including the many local authority landlord registration officers who helped to test it before it went live today,’ he added.[1]

New digital landlord registration system in Scotland goes live

Benefits

Sheenagh Adams, Keeper of the Registers of Scotland, believes that by working closely with the Scottish Government and local authorities, the new application will bring significant benefits to the whole sector.

Adams observed: ‘The new application is a key part of our business transformation, utilising digital technologies that allow us to deliver even better value for the public. The collaboration has been extremely successful, and I would like to thank all of those involved for their hard work.’[1]

[1] https://www.landlordtoday.co.uk/breaking-news/2017/2/new-landlord-registration-system-goes-live

Scottish Landlords Urged to Comply with New Electrical Regulations

Published On: January 23, 2017 at 10:10 am

Author: Em Morley

Categories: Landlord News

Tags: electrical safety,landlord law,Scotland,Scottish landlords,tenants

Scottish landlords have been urged to take new electrical regulations seriously and comply with the law.

Scottish Landlords Urged to Comply with New Electrical Regulations

Property management firm Ross and Liddell warns Scottish landlords that failing to comply with changes to the Housing (Scotland) Act 2014 could seriously endanger the lives of their tenants.

Private Scottish landlords are now responsible for ensuring that registered electricians conduct electrical safety inspections at least once every five years under the regulations.

The ruling was originally enforced for new tenancies that began on or after 1^st December 2015. However, as of 1^st December 2016, it now applies to all existing tenancies.

Scottish landlords that do not have inspections carried out could be issued with a Rent Relief Order by the First-tier Tribunal for Scotland (Housing and Property Chamber).

Those with rental properties in Scotland are reminded that a Rent Relief Order could reduce the rent paid by up to 90%.

The Lettings Manager at Ross and Liddell, Ann McMaster, warns: “If an electrical safety inspection is not carried out, there’s no way of knowing how effective the appliances are and how well they function within a particular environment.

“Leaving any problems undiagnosed could lead to electrical fires, which are a very immediate danger for tenants.”

She adds that the inspections are inexpensive and can be conducted easily and effectively by a qualified electrician.

An electrical safety inspection has two parts – a portable appliance test (PAT) and an Electrical Installation Condition Report (EICR).

We remind all Scottish landlords that the person who conducts the check must be employed by a firm that is a member of an accredited registration scheme operated by a body recognised by the Scottish Government. This usually means that it is registered by NICEIC or a member of the Electrical Contractors’ Association of Scotland (SELECT).

Scottish landlords, are you aware of the new electrical regulations? Remember to stick to the law and keep up with any changes here.

Scottish Rents Fall Following Pressure on the Central Belt

Published On: January 20, 2017 at 10:07 am

Author: Em Morley

Categories: Property News

Tags: Aberdeen,rent prices,rents,Scotland,Scottish landlords

Scottish Rents Fall Following Pressure on the Central Belt

Scottish rents fell in the last three months of 2016 following pressure on the central belt, according to new data from Citylets.

Figures from the letting agent portal show that Scottish rents dropped by an average of 0.9% on the same period of the previous year, to stand at £739 per month.

The Managing Director of Citylets, Thomas Ashdown, said that downward pressure on Scottish rents from Aberdeen over the past two years has typically been countered by around 6% increases in Edinburgh and, more recently, the central belt – including West Lothian and Glasgow – resulting in overall positive growth.

However, a slight drop in the rate of growth in some markets on the central belt has pushed annual national growth in Scottish rents into the red, reports Citylets.

The pace of the Scottish rental market remained virtually unchanged last year, with 61% of all properties let within a month. The average time to let a property was 31 days in 2016.

Ashdown comments: “In 2017, the private rented sector is now of unprecedented importance in Scotland’s housing mix and, overall, we see continued positive growth in major urban areas, with the exception of Aberdeen.

“However, the figures suggest that the rate of decline for Aberdeen has stabilised at the reduced level of around -15% and, indeed, the time to let has also levelled out. This all indicates that rents in the city could start to level off and the worst of the boom/bust cycle is coming to an end.”

Landlords, have you been forced to put your Scottish rents down over the past 12 months?

Although rents in England are still rising, recent research insists that prices are not increasing faster than wages in the private rental sector.

To keep up to date with the changes occurring throughout the UK’s property market, sign up to our FREE monthly newsletter here: www.34.207.192.121/register/

£2bn worth of housing benefit paid to Scottish landlords in last 5 years

Published On: January 5, 2017 at 2:54 pm

Author: Em Morley

Categories: Landlord News

Tags: buy to let in Scotland,housing benefit,Scotland,Scottish landlords

Private landlords in Scotland have received over £2bn in housing benefit during the last five years, according to new figures.

Data from Scottish Labour shows that on average, one quarter of all housing benefits since 2011/12 have gone to private landlords.

Failures

Labour feels that these figures show the SNP’s failure to tackle the housing crisis and as such has called for greater investment in Scotland’s private rental sector. What’s more, the data has lead Mid Scotland and Fife MSP Alex Rowley to call for immediate action from the Scottish Government.

Mr Rowley said: ‘’I have been calling on the Government for some time to address what is evidently a housing crisis spiralling out of control across Scotland.’[1]

The average private sector rent in Scotland has risen by 14% since 2010.

Rowley continued by saying: ‘Money that is spent on housing benefits should be used to support those that need it, whereas instead we are seeing that money end up in the pockets of private landlords. That is why I want to see a reform of the private rented sector to ban rip-off rent rises.’[1]

£2bn worth of housing benefit paid to Scottish landlords in last 5 years

More homes

Mr Rowley suggests that more homes need to be built in order to help solve the housing crisis. As such, he has called for a national house build plan.

Responding, the Scottish Government has moved to defend its track record on housing delivery.

A spokesperson for the Government said: ‘We have an excellent track record on housing and are committed to achieving sustainable, long-term solutions to address housing issues. In the previous session of Parliament, we exceeded our target of delivering 30,000 affordable homes by 10% and our bold and ambitious More Homes Scotland approach will build on that achievement.’[1]

‘We have committed to investing over £3bn to deliver at least 50,000 affordable homes over the next five years and by ending Right to Buy we are protecting up to 15,000 social homes for sale over the next 10 years and safeguarding this stock for future generations. This is accompanied by increased housing subsidy levels and a new rural and islands housing fund to increase the supply of affordable rural housing,’ he concluded.[1]

[1] https://www.landlordtoday.co.uk/breaking-news/2017/1/more-than-2bn-in-housing-benefits-paid-to-private-landlords-in-scotland