Dear all,


I hope that May has been good so far, my mum asked me if I used the 1st of May dew to cleanse my skin which is apparently an old tradition. I didn’t, but It did get me thinking about tradition and how at this life changing time we have adapted and started to embrace a new way of life and thinking.
As you know Glasgow Property Letting are still working away, business as usual and although we have had tenants give notice due to wanting to move back home to be with family due to the current situation, looking at the comparable to last year there is not a noticeable difference.


Landlord loan scheme details announced
The Scottish Government has now revealed details and eligibility criteria for its PRS Landlord (non-business) Covid19 Loan Support scheme.
Although this is a repayable loan and not the grant funding we would have preferred to see, it is better than nothing for those in need. What the Scottish Association of landlords have secured here is better than our English landlord colleagues can access – to date they have no access at all to any government support. There are some points that need to be worked on and continue to be raised to the Scottish Government, namely :

  1. The loan scheme is welcome but needs to go further.
  2. Landlords are being unfairly penalised at a time when other small businesses and self-employed people have been supported with grants to save their businesses.
  3. Landlords of any portfolio size should have access to the scheme.
  4. Loans should be available for more than one property where rent has been lost due to COVID-19.
  5. There is little recognition for the fact that landlords are taxpayers and provide much needed homes for people to live in, in some cases for the most vulnerable in society

The loan scheme is only open to landlords of five or fewer properties. Additionally, you can apply for the loan for only one property within the portfolio, even where more than one property has a COVID-19 related loss.
The application process is open and you can now apply using this link. Please note that you must scroll to the bottom of the page and click “Continue” to start the process.


Department of working pensions and universal credit
The Department for Work & Pensions (DWP) has received an unprecedented number of Universal Credit (UC) applications since March. It is prioritising the processing of these claims to ensure people get the support they need during the coronavirus outbreak.
In order to prioritise resources in this way the DWP has made a decision to pause deductions from existing UC claimants, on behalf of third parties. This includes deductions taken on behalf of landlords relating to rent arrears. This activity has been paused for one month only. All deductions will resume on 10 May as normal.
The aim is this pause only relating to deductions for historic rent arrears; direct payment to landlords of rent is not affected and will continue as normal however it has not been put into practice and delays could be expected.

All advise obtained in these emails is from the Scottish government and the Scottish association of landlords. Which is quite deliberate as there is a lot of information available and I think it is important to keep things as simple and relevant as possible.


On a recent webinar I heard a quote I have been thinking a lot about recently as it seems very appropriate. “ The pessimist complains about the wind; the optimist expects it to change; the realist adjusts the sails.” William Arthur Ward.


Wishing you and your family a safe time in this changing world,

Kindest Regards

Michelle O’Donnell
Branch Manager

17 Elmbank Street
Glasgow
G2 4PB
0141 221 3990

Registration number LARN1903009
VAT : 174415411
SC345735

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