Housing Tribunal report published

The Scottish Tribunals’ sixth annual report has been published covering the period 1 April 2022 to 31 March 2023. The report includes details of the work undertaken by the Housing and Property Chamber (HPC), the body which deals with private rented sector cases including eviction and debt recovery applications. The HPC write up can be read on pages 12-15 of the report.

A total of 4596 applications were received by the HPC during the reporting year. This was a 37% increase on the level of applications received in 2021-22, and a 12% increase on those received pre-pandemic in 2019-20. 49% of applications were for an eviction order and 27% were for civil proceedings (usually these are to recover rent arrears).

SAL’s own analysis of eviction decisions made during the period 1 April 2022 to 31 March 2023 shows that 73% of cases were granted and 25% were rejected because the landlord had made an error (errors would include issuing incorrect paperwork to terminate the tenancy, failing to respond to questions the tribunal raises about the application or using an eviction ground which doesn’t apply). During this period all evictions were discretionary (subject to a reasonableness test) but only 1.7% of cases were refused on the grounds of reasonableness.