News archives
Eviction ban extension simply pushes a critical problem into the future
SAL was dismayed to hear yesterday’s announcement by First Minister Nicola Sturgeon that her government intends to extend the country’s evictions ban by six months to the end of March 2021. Chief executive, John Blackwood says that although many campaigning groups...
Covid-19 current information
The SAL team is working to represent our members’ views on the many devastating health, social, personal and economic effects of the current Covid-19 crisis. Our aim is to be here to provide the most up to date information and guidance as long as our staff team...
Covid-19 coronavirus crisis – tenant help
Members are getting in touch with some highly distressing financial and business issues. The vast majority of households in the UK will suffer financial losses as a result of the virus, and some will be left with little or no income at all. Under the terms of the...
Letting agent registration update
Since the introduction of letting agent registration in 2018, the Scottish Government has received 1038 applications to join the letting agent register. 939 of these have been approved so far, and 43 have been withdrawn by the agent. There have been 14 refusals so far...
Making tax digital: new dates announced
Under new HMRC rules landlords with a turnover above £10,000 will have to keep financial records digitally using specialist software and send HMRC quarterly updates on their tax affairs from April 2023. This is under reforms to tax return requirements termed “Making...
Report on Letting Agent Enforcement Orders
Since January 2018 letting agents in Scotland have been required to comply with a statutory code of practice. Landlords and tenants who believe an agency they’ve used has failed to adhere to the code can make an application to the First-tier Tribunal for Scotland...
Resumption of tribunal cases
Due to coronavirus, the First-tier Tribunal for Scotland (Housing & Property Chamber) has not been conducting any hearings or case management discussions (CMDs) since 19 March. As lockdown arrangements are now beginning to ease, work has started in re-scheduling...
Coronavirus £25k grant lobbying success
As part of the government’s support for businesses in the coronavirus crisis, those in the retail sector operating from premises where the rateable value is between £18,001 and £51,000 are eligible to apply to the “Retail, Hospitality and Leisure Grant...
Fair rents bill published
Following a public consultation last year (see here) Scottish Labour MSP Pauline McNeill has published a Member’s Bill in the Scottish Parliament to place a blanket restriction on mid-tenancy rent increases for Private Residential Tenancies (PRTs). The bill wording...
Closed to crime: report your suspicions
Charity Crimestoppers Scotland asks people to report suspicions to ensure businesses can open in the future but stay #ClosedtoCrime Attacks on ATMs, supermarkets, factories and warehouses are among crimes that harm local businesses, disrupting services and employment...