PRS: OFFER OF COMMENT ON PRIVATE HOUSING (TENANCIES) BILL

Tomorrow (January 15, 2016), MSPs issue their report on first stage amendments to the Private Housing (Tenancies) Bill which proposes sweeping changes to Scotland’s Private Rented Sector (PRS). This will be followed by further debate on Thursday 21stJanuary in the Scottish Parliament.

John Boyle and Dan Cookson of PRS 4 Scotland, a campaign group that wants to see a policy framework that addresses Scotland’s chronic lack of housing, would be happy to offer any briefings or comment on the issues at hand, from rent controls and a single, one-size fits all tenancy agreement, through to the impact on students, festival lets and future investment.

Earlier this week, PRS 4 Scotland, released findings from the most detailed research on tenants’ opinions and needs undertaken since the launch of the Private Housing (Tenancies) Bill on 7 October 2015.

A full copy of the research findings can be accessed at http://j.mp/PRS4TenantSurvey. The results show that:

• While the option of an open-ended tenancy is popular, a large majority of tenants responding (75%) wanted to retain flexibility and said that a limited ‘standard’ tenancy would fail to serve the interests of many in the PRS.

• Students have particular interests and needs, and these risk being compromised by the inflexibility of the proposed single tenancy. Nearly 40% of undergraduates responding would prefer to keep fixed term tenancies – which will be abolished under the Bill.
• Moreover, 64% of students felt keeping rental costs down was important, even if it means time out of the property during the summer holidays. Summer tourist and conference lets for HMO and Purpose Built Student Accommodation properties are at risk from the current drafting of the Bill.
• Almost all the students who responded (92%) said that being able to secure accommodation for the next academic year as early as possible was important. The open ended tenancies proposed in the Bill will make this very difficult.

Dan Cookson commented:

“These detailed research findings show that, while clearly well-intentioned, the government’s one-size-fits-all approach to tenancies will cause huge problems for tenants and landlords alike.

“The government suggests the market will simply ‘adjust’ to these and other issues raised. Its business impact assessment acknowledges that this will be bad for landlords, but this is clear evidence that some tenant groups, like students, will struggle with the changes too. We would urge the government to make available their assessments of the adjustments that are likely to occur, including estimates of increases or decreases in supply and rental costs.”

For further information or to arrange an interview, please contact Elizabeth Lambley, 0131 554 1230.

Elizabeth Lambley, Indigo, 0131 554 1230

PRS 4 Scotland, is an alliance of people and businesses who want to see a strong, modernised and sustainable Private Rented Sector (PRS) in Scotland serving tenants and enhancing supply by contributing to the nation’s housing stock. It includes agents, landlords, portals and investors, led principally by DJ Alexander, Rettie & Co, Lettingweb, Citylets, LetScotland and Braemore and has been established in response to the Scottish Government’s consultation into a new tenancy regime for the Private Rented Sector.

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