19:03 PM, 27th September 2023, About A year ago 15
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West Lothian Council is facing a housing crisis as the cost-of-living crisis has forced many private landlords to sell off their properties, leaving former tenants in need of accommodation.
In a report by the council’s housing needs manager, Sarah Kelly, around 100 private landlords in West Lothian sold up their properties in 2022, resulting in a loss of 170 rented homes.
She said that most of the tenants who were evicted from their private tenancies turned to the council for housing, increasing the demand for temporary and permanent accommodation.
Ms Kelly told a meeting of the Governance and Risk Committee that the council had a more stable relationship with the private sector than neighbouring Edinburgh, which was more affected by the short term let market.
However, she added that the cost-of-living crisis had hit the costs of both private and hotel accommodation, putting pressure on the council’s budget, Edinburgh Live reports.
Ms Kelly said: “The increased costs and overspend in housing need is largely to do with the provision of B&B. We rely on B&Bs.
“The cost-of-living crisis has also hit costs in hotel provision.”
She also said that there was a growing lack of trust in the private rented sector (PRS) from tenants who had been served with eviction notices.
Ms Kelly explained: “They are very reluctant to consider private tenancy again.”
The council was told that its homes are considered by many to be a better option than renting in the private sector, as it has a very low turnover of properties and offers long term security.
However, the council has a limited supply of homes available with only 560 properties to let last year and a waiting list of around 10,000 applicants.
A report to the committee spells out the problem: “There continues, however, to be a high backlog of homeless applicants where the council has a statutory duty to secure a permanent outcome.
“As of February 2023, the backlog of open homeless cases was 1,188.
“This, along with the high demand for temporary accommodation and the low supply of available permanent lets across the social rented sector has reduced turnover in suitable temporary accommodation stock and subsequently caused an ongoing reliance on the use of B&B accommodation to meet the council’s statutory homeless duties.”
The council has developed a range of policies to address the housing crisis, including the development of shared temporary tenancies and supported accommodation – and it is investing in a buy back scheme.
The Conservative group leader, and chair of the governance and risk committee, Councillor Damian Doran-Timson, blamed the SNP/Green Scottish Government for the housing situation.
Edinburgh Live reports him saying: “It is concerning that more and more private landlords are leaving the housing market putting even greater stresses on West Lothian Council housing.
“At a time when the market needs more properties, we are seeing a sharp reduction in availability.
“Whilst cost of living pressures may be the reason behind some of the landlords are not keeping properties, I have no doubt a bigger factor is the anti-landlord and anti-business policies of the SNP/Green Scottish Government.”
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Phil T
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Sign Up8:01 AM, 29th September 2023, About A year ago
Just finililsed the sale of my 2nd and last property.
If it hadn't been for the ludicrous tax on income rather than earnings I would have probably been able to make it work. Having to pay tax on something you make a loss on seems a tad silly. What other business has to do that
Glad I'm out and dont have to deal with the hassle and silly government interference , but I feel sorry the tenants that now have to pay a lot more some where else if they can even find anywhere
Jimmy Smith
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Sign Up12:39 PM, 29th September 2023, About A year ago
It's not a cost of living crisis that's making landlords sell up its an over regulation crisis, councils dumb brains still don't get it do they
EL1111
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Sign Up19:15 PM, 29th September 2023, About A year ago
Private Letting is an industry.
The Government acts as our regulator, telling us how to run our business. How many other industries are so totally controlled by the government. They tell us how much we can charge for our goods, how much profit we are allowed to make. They control the standard of our goods and fine us if they don't meet their standards. They implement rules and regulations which must be obeyed, otherwise we are fined. If we no longer want to do business with a certain person it takes a minimum of 2 months to terminate that business, even though that person is not paying for the goods we have to continue to supply it. We are not encouraged to chase bad debt because its immoral, and are more than likely to have to write it off. I could go on. I understand there has to be regulation in all industries, but in our industry, its just interference. How many other industries would put up with this crap. As Landlords we are treated like a leper colony, but yet the government need us, because even though they are very good at telling us how to do it, they can't do it themselves.
Bristol Landlord
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Sign Up22:43 PM, 29th September 2023, About A year ago
Reply to the comment left by EL1111 at 29/09/2023 - 19:15Absolutely spot on, the stench of government hypocrisy is unbelievable, we are a business when it comes to Government controls and regulations but unless a landlord has officially incorporated we are not a business but an “investment” when it comes to deducting mortgage interest as an expense, deeply unfair.
I’m getting close to pulling the plug on being a UK landlord which will make my 26 tenants each have to go and find another place to live.
Nam
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Sign Up13:02 PM, 3rd October 2023, About A year ago
Well of course you have a crisis, You took in migrants that you had no space for. Now that the general population that we're letting private need housing there's no housing for them because the government was giving you money to take in migrants, while ship other communities up north for cheaper housings. You're trying to blame the landlords selling up because you want their vote. Do you not think the population notices the changes