9:24 AM, 29th November 2024, About 3 hours ago 3
Text Size
Scottish landlords could be forced to accept pets in rental properties and face rent controls.
During a debate, Members of the Scottish Parliament (MSPs) voted to pass Stage 1 of the Scottish Housing bill.
The Scottish Housing Bill will allow renters to request permission to keep a pet in their home, and landlords will not be able to unreasonably refuse such requests. Tenants will also have the right to challenge decisions in court.
Under current laws, landlords in Scotland are not legally required to consider tenant requests to keep pets.
Other proposals include a national rent control system which will require local authorities to keep track of conditions in their local private rented sector (PRS), and advise ministers on whether to limit rent increases.
According to the Scottish Society for Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (SSPCA), seven out of 10 tenants would risk becoming homeless if they were no longer able to keep their pet in their current accommodation.
Housing Minister Paul McLennan says the Scottish Housing Bill will make it easier for tenants to request a pet.
He said: “Pets are an important part of the family for many people across Scotland. Tenants have the right to feel at home in rented accommodation and having more control over keeping a pet can play a big part in that and can have additional benefits for their mental health and wellbeing.”
Mr McLennan adds the Scottish government is looking at a pet CV which aims to provide detailed information about the animal to help ease landlords’ concerns and give them a better idea of how the pet will fit into the property.
He adds: “Effective guidance will be essential to the successful implementation of these measures as will ensuring landlords are provided with sufficient information to inform their decision to approve or refuse a pet request.
“We will work with tenants, landlords and animal welfare organisations to develop the guidance required including considering the role of a ‘pet CV’.
“In addition, provisions in the Bill provide Scottish Ministers with powers to set out further details that must be provided to the landlord in a request for keeping a pet.
“This will help to ensure that landlords have all the information they need to make a decision on a request. We will consult with tenants, landlords and other relevant groups in making use of this power.”
The Scottish Housing Bill will also give local authorities the power to cap rent increases.
Mr McLennan said: “As part of the Housing (Scotland) Bill, which includes long-term rent controls, we aim to improve the lives of renters and foster a more affordable, high-quality, and fair private rented sector.
“The Bill also meets the Scottish government’s ambition to improve the renting experience in Scotland, whilst also encouraging landlords to invest.
“We will continue to work to create a system that strengthens renters’ rights and supports continued investment in the rental market.”
In a debate in the Scottish Parliament, Meghan Gallacher, Conservative MSP for Central Scotland, warned that rent controls won’t work and are a failed experiment.
She said: “Rent controls will stifle efforts to deliver more homes for Scotland.”
She quoted the Scottish Association of Landlords figure that 22,000 private rented sector homes have been lost in one year.
Willie Rennie, Liberal Democrat MSP for North East Fife, highlighted that investment in the private rented sector is shrinking as landlords exit the market. He argued that the government must take action to boost supply.
Timothy Douglas, head of policy and campaigns, says rent controls will do more harm than good.
He said: “Rent controls are not the answer to tackle the housing emergency in Scotland. Increasing the supply of homes to rent, reducing landlord costs and removing the tax burden to buy a property to let will make renting more affordable for tenants.
“Furthermore, the proposals and details for rent control areas in the Bill are limited at best, and offer no clarity for existing agents working with landlords or for new would-be landlords thinking of entering the sector.
“Significant amendments to the legislation are needed if the Scottish government want to raise property standards and make renting more affordable. This must include removing the application of rent control measures between tenancies in order to allow upgrades such as redecorating, replacing furniture, or installing energy-efficient measures to take place.”
Reluctant Landlord
Become a Member
If you login or become a member you can view this members profile, comments, posts and send them messages!
Sign Up10:25 AM, 29th November 2024, About 2 hours ago
Housing Minister Paul McLennan says the Scottish Housing Bill will make it easier for tenants to request a pet.
REQUEST! Tenants seem to believe this means acceptance. It's the tenants that need educating on what this means in practice, not landlords!
Mick Roberts
Become a Member
If you login or become a member you can view this members profile, comments, posts and send them messages!
Sign Up11:15 AM, 29th November 2024, About An hour ago
Remember when we were allowed to ask for a higher deposit to take pets? And it worked.
My repeated notes on this:
Gees, how simple was it when we could just charge higher deposit for Pet owners and those that did no damage got all money back. So so simple.
No better insurance than the tenants own money.
Now look what Shelter and Generation rent and the Govt have done. Made it MUCH MUCH worse for tenants yet again.
My text below I’ve done before.
Landlords: pets are okay if you pay for extra insurance to cover any damage.
Gov: in that case we will make it illegal to charge extra insurance.
LLs: well then we will have to slightly increase deposits for those with pets.
Gov: in that case we will cap deposits at 5 weeks rent.
LLs: okay well we can’t really allow pets anymore then.
Gov: in that case we will force you to take tenants with pets.
LLs: well then we have no choice but to increase rent across the board even for tenants without pets.
Gov: oh.
Tenants: why is rent so high??
Unbelievable isn't it. If the tenant was allowed to pay a higher deposit to cover potential pet damage. And if the pet caused no damage, tenant gets deposit back, job done.
That way only those that caused damage, ie. 10% would pay for THEIR OWN DAMAGE.
The way Govt have it now is, EVERYONE loses. And now this horrendous reaction of pets now losing their lives.
U would think the Govt and Councils would actually talk to us on ground level to ask what we think. As they ALWAYS get it wrong and us in the actual job get it right cause we doing it day in. day out.
We all know what happened with scrapping Pet deposits and we told em it would happen. Now ALL pet owners pay more rent whereas before, if no damage, no charge. Now an unfair charge on every pet owner. And they've got Shelter and the others to thank for that.
Again this shows Govt interference trying to appease voters, the renters thinks Whey Hey Great! Whereas we know they end up worse off.
We told em this was gonna happen.
If they let Landlords charge a riskier higher deposit just as insurance companies charge more for more risk, then let's say 9 out of 10 pets caused no damage. They'd all get their deposits back. And the 1 out of 10 who did cause damage, they'd be the only one that paid. So all pet owners get houses, 90% get their deposit back. And only the 1 that caused the damage would pay.
As it is now, cause Shelter supported banning higher deposits, Landlords are now charging more rent to ALL pet owners, so ALL pet owners lose. All pet owners pay.
They trying to stop this. So what's gonna happen and is happening? Landlords are just refusing ALL pets. So ALL pet owners suffer. When in reality, it's only 10% that cause the damage.
Landlords know how to rent houses out. Govt doesn't.
I've had £1000 stairs chewed apart by dogs. It's not nice.
And I used to take ALL pet owners. I don't now cause of this Govt interference.
Before the Pet Owner knew straightaway they wasn't having it. Now they get messed about & get told We looking at all applications, when in reality the agent or Landlord ain't taking them. That's what's happening now with DWP UC.
Link to the above https://docs.google.com/document/d/1u54ouYTdNr7WaCPYW18Q_tZdlJr8-VwSUJpE0IcPf5k/edit?usp=drivesdk
Martin Thomas
Become a Member
If you login or become a member you can view this members profile, comments, posts and send them messages!
Sign Up11:56 AM, 29th November 2024, About 48 minutes ago
Reply to the comment left by Mick Roberts at 29/11/2024 - 11:15
Well said Mick!