Scottish Housing Minister Speaks Out Against Bedroom Tax
20th March 2013
From Scottish Government webiste: www.scotland.gov.uk
Landlords should consider all possible options and use all reasonable means to prevent evictions of housing tenants struggling to pay rent due to the bedroom tax, Housing Minister Margaret Burgess said today.
The Scottish Government has called for the UK Government’s under occupancy measures, that will cut housing benefit for those deemed to have a spare room, to be scrapped.
However, the policy remains set to come into force in April, and the Scottish Government has already made extra funding available to help provide advice and support for those who will ...
New Welfare Benefits Rates from April 2013
4th March 2013
Please click here to see new welfare benefits rates from April 2013
Petition against Bedroom Tax Evictions
8th February 2013
The UK Government is introducing changes to Housing Benefit which will cause financial hardship to many people. The so-called 'Bedroom Tax' will penalise tenants deemed to have 'spare' rooms in their home, or deemed not to be making appropriate use of available space, e.g. by making children share bedrooms. Yet the Government has not made any serious commitment to improving the availability of affordable social sector rented accommodation so that people may 'downsize' where appropriate. Please sign the online petition against the Bedroom Tax, submitted by Mike Dailly of Govan Law Centre: Click here to link to Petition.
Making a claim for compensation against the council
14th November 2012
Renfrewshire Council has changed thw ay it handles claims. If you experience damage, loss or harm in relation to yourself or your belongings, you may wish to make a claim for compensation against the council.
There are two ways in which you can proceed with a claim. One option is to claim through your own insurer and the other option is to claim directly against the council. Both these options are explained below. You should read both options and decide which is best for you.
Claiming through your own insurers:
If you make a claim through your own insurer, your ...
Property Factors Code Becomes Law
19th October 2012
The Scottish Government’s ‘Code of Conduct for Property Factors’ (published in implementation of section 14 of the Property Factors (Scotland) Act 2011) came into force on 1 October 2012.
The Code sets out minimum standards of practice for registered property factors. Registered property factors are legally required to comply with the Code. The three main elements of the Act are:—
- The Code
- Registration Scheme
- Dispute Resolution before the Homeowner Housing Panel
Operating as a factor in Scotland without registration is a criminal offence.
Property factors include private businesses, local authorities and housing associations, and the Act may even encompass ...
Scottish Secure Tenancies to Change from 1 August 2012
25th July 2012
As of 1st August 2012, the Housing (Scotland) Act 2010 makes important changes to Scottish local authority and housing association tenancies (so-called ‘Scottish Secure tenancies’) as regulated to the Housing (Scotland) Act 2001.
s16 of the 2001 Act is amended by s153 of the 2010 Act
- s16 (5)(a) no longer applies in rent arrears cases (cases where the ground for eviction includes arrears). Thus, decree no longer terminates the tenancy. The tenancy is only terminated if the landlord recovers possession in pursuance of the decree (s16 (5A)(a)(b).
- The decree must specify a prescribed period for implementation ...
UK Supreme Court Dabbles in Scots Human Rights ?
3rd June 2011
Marisa Gillick, Volunteer Law Student at Renfrewshire Law Centre, writes about the role of the UK Supreme Court in Scottish criminal cases.
Following their recent success in the elections to the Scottish Parliament, the Scottish Nationalist Party (SNP) are set to challenge the Supreme Court of the United Kingdom over its intervention in Scots law regarding Human Rights issues.
The situation intensified following a ruling by the Supreme Court that the conviction of Nat Fraser, who is currently serving a life sentence for allegedly arranging the murder of his wife, Arlene, in 1998 was unsafe.
The SNP’s contention regards ...
Super-Injunctions: What You Need to Know
31st May 2011
David Young, Volunteer Law Student at Renfrewshire Law Centre, writes about super-injunctions.
What is a super-injunction?
A super-injunction is a form of court order available in England and Wales (but not in Scotland, where the equivalent to an injunction is an interdict, although so far there is no 'super interdict'). It is a two-tiered 'gagging order' and more rigorous than a normal injunction. An injunction prevents newspapers from printing allegations about a public figure or an organisation. A super-injunction goes a step further and stops them from reporting on the existance of the injunction itself.
How did super-injunctions come about ...
New Legal Aid Thresholds Announced
31st March 2011
The Scottish Legal Aid Board (SLAB) has announced new thresholds for Advice & Assistance (A&A) and Civil Legal Aid (CivLA), which will take effect from 11 April 2011.
Legal Aid is a form of government welfare benefit available to eligible persons who cannot afford to pay for private legal services.
A&A covers meetings with your solicitor, correspondence, telephone calls etc, and representation in some tribunals (ABWOR). Eligibility for A&A is assessed with reference to household financial circumstances, i.e. if you live with a partner, then your partner's income and savings are taken into account.
From 11 ...
Slum Landlords Beware of New Housing Law
18th March 2011
The Scottish Parliament has now passed the Private Rented Housing (Scotland) Act 2011, which aims to improve the standard of private rented housing in Scotland.
Councils should have enhanced powers to take measures against bad or unlawful practices and to improve both landlords' and their tenants’ awareness of their rights and responsibilities.
Delinquent landlords face a fine of up to £50,000 as well as a ban on letting homes of up to five years. The use of premiums, already unlawful in terms of existing legislation, should also receive attention under the new regime.