Dear all,
This is not the quarterly email I expected to be sending out, however in light of recent events Glasgow Property Letting has taken the decision to restrict our working days and hours on a temporary basis. Colleagues will be mainly working from home with access to email.
We will respond to you but please bear with us as this may take longer than usual.
As all members of staff have access to admin@glasgowpropertyletting.com, I would recommend emails are sent to that address.
Repairs and maintenance
We have taken advantage of the MOT style safety certificate renewal and the safety certificate due to expire in May 2020 are being processed.
We await further government guidance on the procedure to follow if emergency maintenance work needs to be carried out in a property occupied by someone exhibiting symptoms of COVID-19 and cannot be postponed until the end of their isolation period.
Rent arrears due to COVID-19
The vast majority of households in the UK will suffer financial losses as a result of the virus, and some will be left with little or no income at all.
Tenants will be encouraged to seek their own advice on any benefits/sick pay they may be entitled to.
Budget 2020
Residential property landlords were perhaps again fearing the worst, but only previously announced changes come into effect.
The full impact of the interest restriction to basic rate is coming into force from 6 April 2020 (following its transitional implementation). The government also announced a new stamp duty surcharge of 2% for non-UK resident investors (with effect from 1 April 2021) but this is not applicable to Scottish residential properties, unless the Scottish Government decides to follow suit.
The big announcement did not involve the Budget at all, with the news that the base rate would be reduced to 0.25% from 0.75% with immediate effect, an emergency stimulus to the economy prompted by the current Coronavirus outbreak
Draft EPC regulations
Draft EPC regulations have been laid in the Scottish Parliament to bring in a long expected requirement for PRS properties to meet minimum EPC standards. The draft regulations set out the following requirements:
Private rented sector properties in Scotland will need to achieve at least:
- EPC of E at change of tenancy from 1 October 2020
- All rental properties must have an EPC rating of E by 31 March 2022
- EPC of D at change of tenancy from 1 April 2022
- All rental properties must have an EPC rating of D by 31 March 2025
In some situations there will be exemptions, including where:
- It is not technically feasible to carry out improvements
- Where other owners in a block of flats refuse consent to do work to common parts of the building
- Where tenants refuse consent for work
- Where permission to carry out work to a property which is listed or in a conservation area can’t be obtained
- Where the cost of improvements needed in the period 1 October 2020 to 31 March 2022 exceeds £5000, and where the cost of improvements needed in the period 1 October 2020 to 31 March 2025 exceeds £10000 (landlords will be expected to carry out any improvements they can up to that amount)
For all EPC related works, landlords will only be required to carry out such work where the cost of purchasing and installing it can be financed by means of funding provided by a grant or loan from Scottish Ministers.
I hope that normality and routine return soon, but until then, stay safe and thanks to the 21st century technology, we are an email or telephone call away
Kindest Regards
Michelle O’Donnell
Branch Manager
0141 221 3990
077 2000 9850
17 Elmbank Street
Glasgow
G2 4PB
Registration number LARN1903009
VAT : 174415411
SC345735
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Information from the Scottish association of landlords and Scottish government.