Dear all,

I did not think in March when the first landlord email went out that  6 months later they still would be, or that they would be so well received, or how much I enjoy writing them and reading the lovely replies.  I had planned for this to be the last weekly email, but it seems as it is Lockdown again for Glasgow and surrounding areas that there will be changes and new information to get out to you, so maybe not got monthly quite yet! 🙂

We have noticed an increase in tap repairs since the beginning of the year, obviously people being at home more, using the tap more for hand washing.  it is interesting the habits that tenants have mentioned to me and we even had a tenant that didn’t realise part of the wall was shutter and a window was behind it, cleaning and lockdown gave a whole new outlook!

I contacted all the tenants yesterday to advise then if they are in any financial difficult what to do, where to contact and if there is anything that they want to discuss we are here to help.https://glasgowpropertyletting.com/tenant-email-2nd-september-lock-down-again-financial-assistance-and-inspections/

Housing benefit have been sporadically returning my emails, but not with the information I want, just a standard “thank you for your email”, bit like council tax.Everyone is doing their best and I am not complaining, just letting you know that I don’t have all the answers I would like to be able to give you because I can not obtain these answers.

Scottish association of landlords  latest news

As you know the Scottish Government and the Scottish Association of landlords (SAL)are the main sources of information for these emails and I have taken this section from their websites.

Scotland’s largest landlord membership organisation has warned that despite almost half of landlords offering discounts to tenants affected by Covid-19, arrears are continuing to rise and could reach unsustainable levels unless government takes action to help tenants pay their rent.

The Scottish Association of Landlords (SAL) has published details of a survey of its members which found that in the past four months, 95% of letting agents had lost an average of almost £10,000 due to the pandemic, whilst 66% of landlords had lost an average of almost £5000 each.

The same survey found that 44% of SAL members has provided discounts to tenants, with the most common reduction given being 20% off the monthly rent.

While the Scottish Government has announced their intention to extend the emergency restrictions on evictions due to the impact of coronavirus until March 2021, SAL believes that without government assistance to help tenants pay their rent, arrears will continue to grow, with many landlords and agents simply not able to sustain losses.

SAL is calling on the Scottish Government to use Holyrood’s existing powers to create new social security benefits and change the eligibility criteria for Discretionary Housing Benefit.  This would allow more people to gain assistance with paying their rent, keeping them in a home, reducing pressure on social services and ensuring they can more easily contribute to the economy.

Other Key findings from the survey of SAL’s almost 5000 members include:

• 66% of landlords have reported losing income, with an average of almost £5000 each
• 44% of landlord and agent respondents have provided a discount for tenants
• The most common reduction percentage given by those reducing rents was 20%
• 96% of agents responding have had rental properties void as a result of the pandemic

John Blackwood, chief executive of the Scottish Association of Landlords (SAL), said: “What landlords, tenants and the Scottish Government must focus on is how to sustain tenancies. Landlords should continue to be flexible and understanding, reducing rent and writing off arrears where possible for those affected by the pandemic, and tenants should ensure that their landlord is kept informed about changes to allow for reasonable solutions to be found.”

“But unless the Scottish Government uses the powers of Holyrood to put money in the pockets of tenants so they can pay their rent, we will find ourselves back here in March 2021 only with a greatly amplified problem and even less flexibility to find a solution that works for everyone, exacerbating the effects of the pandemic and economic downturn.”

Going forward
As you may or may not know I read on line a variety of newspapers from around the world from the Australian Age  to the Rio Times on line , last night I came across an interesting article from the UK housing market which details how there are currently more people renting in the private rented sector than ever before, as the UK rental market has not slowed down, but gaining momentum.

Apparently today is Skyscraper Day which is observed on 3rd September every year to commemorate the birthday of the famous architect William Can Aien who constructed the Chrysler Building which is one of the iconic landmark in New York city. 

Colin is on much deserved annual leave and back the 14th of September.  The office is still closed and we are still working remotely.  If there is anything, please feel free to give me a call or WhatsApp, if I don’t answer I maybe on another line, but if you message me I will get back to you as soon as I can.

I read a lovely quote “Be not afraid, fear never builds the future, but hope does” which I think in these strange, uncertain and understandably frightening times hope, communication and kindness will help create the future,

take care, stay safe and you know where we are if you need any assistance,

Michelle O’Donnell

Branch Manager

17 Elmbank Street

Glasgow

G2 4PB

0141 221 3990

 

Registration number LARN1903009

VAT : 174415411

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