Dear all,

In light of the evolving situation around corona virus ( covid – 19).  The health and well being of our team, their families and clients is of paramountimportance.  Therefore for the immediate future we have migrated to remote working and closed out office this week.  Our team are not up and running from home, still accessible via email as usual.

During times of uncertainty, business may come across new challenged and individuals may feel a little lst, however for us to weather the storm, we need to keep communicating.

The COVID-19 crisis is causing anxiety for most of us and putting pressure on landlords, letting agents and tenants. The Scottish Association of Landlords are in constant dialogue with the Scottish Government, ensuring that our concerns are heard and working together to do our best in the most challenging and rapidly changing situation most of us have ever experienced.

The Cabinet Secretary for Communities and Local Government, Aileen Campbell MSP made a statement in the Scottish Parliament and , the recognition that support must be given to private sector landlords at this time, in the words “Let me be clear we do not want private sector landlords to be disadvantaged by a lack of rent.” See full speech.

Scotland’s Housing Minister Kevin Stewart MSP, has published an open letter to landlords and letting agents. Here is the letter . Within this letter the government calls for buy-to-let mortgage providers to provide payment holidays to landlords with mortgages on their rental properties. This is needed for landlords to do even more to help support tenants, as society as a whole collectively pays the price of the impending economic crisis.

Scottish Ministers’ announcement of a temporary legislative change to amend the mandatory grounds for eviction for rent arrears under the Private Residential Tenancy, from three months to six months is now academic, in response to the COVID-19 crisis, it has been announced that the Housing and Property Chamber of the First-tier Tribunal that deals with eviction cases, will not be hearing cases until at least 28 May but this could be much longer.

The Scottish Association of Landlords have released guidance on helping tenants pay rent, and COVID-19 information

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