Dear all,

I am sure we have all felt ‘deepooperit’ and ‘dumfungled’: old Sottish dialect for being mentally and physically worn out this year and the latest variant news may not be helping with the festive cheer, but New Year is approaching and I am going to start it with a fresh head and optimistic outlook. 

Update to Covid-19 guidance: Omicron variant

Following the emergence of the Omicron variant the government is asking people to significantly step up and increase compliance with existing protections – such as face coverings, hygiene, home working, ventilation, vaccination and regular testing.  In particular, people are being asked to do lateral flow tests before mixing with people from other households.
 
Businesses are being asked to maximise working from home where possible and to consider whether people who were working at home at the start of the pandemic can do so now. Where there is a business need to be in the office, employers and employees are best placed to understand the most effective balance of home/flexible/hybrid working, through collaboration.

Which means we are still working from home for the foreseeable future!

Scottish Budget

The Scottish Budget for 2022 to 2023 was published on 9 December 2021. There are no changes in the budget which will specifically affect the private rented sector. The land & buildings transaction tax additional dwelling supplement (ADS) on purchases of second/investment properties will remain at 4%.
 
The Scottish Government will shortly launch a call for evidence and views on the ADS. The review will not consider whether the ADS should continue, its overall impact or the specific rate at which it should be charged. Rather, the focus of the review will be on the operation of the ADS.

As a first step, the government will seek views in order to build a clear and shared understanding of stakeholder and taxpayer concerns, develop a stronger evidence base on the need for change and identify any propositions for legislative change.

New Short Term Let Legislation.

Following concerns about the impact of short term lets on local communities as well as housing supply, new legislation has been introduced before the Scottish Parliament to give councils more powers in order to make short term lets safe and balance communities’ needs with wider economic and tourism interests.

Earlier this year (April 2021), measures were introduced allowing local authorities to establish short term let control areas and manage the number of short term lets, however, the new regulation goes a step further and will require all local councils to establish a short term lets licensing scheme by October 2022.

Subject to approval of MSPs, the new legislation will make existing short term lets hosts and operators apply for a licence for each property by 1st April 2023, with all short term lets in Scotland being licensed by 1st July 2024.

“Licensing scheme that works for Scotland”

Commenting on the new regulation, Housing Secretary, Shona Robison said: “We have already introduced legislation allowing councils to establish short term let control areas and manage numbers of short term lets. This is the next significant step to delivering a licensing scheme that will ensure short term lets are safe and the people providing them are suitable. We want short term lets to continue making a positive impact on Scotland’s tourism industry and local economies while meeting the needs of local communities.

“Short term lets can offer people a flexible travel option. However, we know that in certain areas, particularly tourist hotspots, high numbers of lets can cause problems for neighbours and make it harder for people to find homes to live in. The licensing scheme and control area legislation give councils the powers to take action where they need to.”

She continued: “We appreciate the input from tourism bodies, local government, community organisations and others in reaching this point, and look forward to delivering a short term lets licensing scheme that works for Scotland.”

The Scottish Government has published a report on the third public consultation and a revised Business and Regulatory Impact Assessment.

To finalise guidance for the licensing scheme, it will now reconvene the stakeholder working group. The guidance is to be published early in 2022.

Christmas Times

We are still working remotely and the bank transfer will be dependent on the bank holidays and the bank:

Thursday 23rd December 9.30am – 1.30pm

Christmas Eve       Essential Maintenance

Christmas Day      CLOSED

Sunday 26th       CLOSED

Bank Holiday Monday 27th December-  CLOSED

Bank Holiday Tuesday 28th December –Closed

Wednesday 29th December – Essential Maintenance and banking

Thursday  30th December  – Essential Maintenance and banking

Friday 31st December  – Essential Maintenance and banking

Saturday 1st January 2022 –  Closed – Happy NEW YEAR!!!!

Sunday 2nd January 2022 – –  Closed

Bank Holiday Monday 3rd January 2022 CLOSED

Bank Holiday Tuesday 4th January 2022 CLOSED

Wednesday 5th January 2022 – With hope normal hours will resume, although working from home

Although the office will be closed, you are still able to email and tenants will be able to report any maintenance issue using the fixflow system and email into admin@glasgowpropertyletting.com.

Last Year we worked out that the cost of the 12 days of Christmas was £5,000 with the impact of Brexit and the pandemic, I am not going to attempt this again, but I still hope a little entertaining.

As I think this will be the last landlord email until the new year from all of the team at Glasgow Property Letting, we wish you a Merry Christmas and a Happy New year.

Merry Christmas & Happy New Year Cards 2022 - Apps on Google Play

Kindest Regards

Michelle ODonnell

Branch Manager

Registration number LARN1903009

VAT : 174415411

SC345735

17 Elmbank Street

Glasgow

G2 4PB

0141 221 3990

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