"The vast majority of landlords and agents are responding positively where problems arise. However, it is worrying that so many tenants do not know where to turn when landlords fail to properly address their concerns"
- Dr Jennifer Harris - SafeDeposits Scotland
Reforms to the rental market in Scotland are not empowering tenants to challenge bad practices in the sector, according to new research which found that only a small minority are taking complaints about property conditions to the Tribunal created to resolve disputes where landlords have failed to act.
The representative survey of 1,000 private renters was carried out by the SafeDeposits Scotland Charitable Trust which works to advance education about housing rights and obligations in the private rented sector.
According to the most recent Scottish Government data, 330,000 households across Scotland now live in the private rented sector.
The SafeDeposits research found that 61% of tenants had experienced problems with the quality of the homes they rented.
The top five issues experienced by those who encountered problems included leaks or problems with plumbing (23%), difficulties keeping their home warm (19%), repairs not being carried out (16%), outside doors, walls, roofs or windows being in need of repair (16%) and serious problems with damp or mould (13%).
According to the data, 88% of tenants facing problems with their property reported it to their landlord or letting agent, with most cases (85%) being fully or partially addressed by them. However, 15% said the response from their landlord or agent was not acceptable.
Notably, where tenants had failed to receive an acceptable response to their problem, only a small minority are making use of the options they have to seek redress. Just four per cent of this group took their complaint to the Tribunal established in 2017 which makes decisions on property conditions. Just nine per cent took their complaint to their local council.
Among all tenants responding to the survey, 45% said they would not know where to turn in such situations.
“Decent, safe housing should be the bedrock of the private rented sector," states Dr Jennifer Harris, Head of Policy at SafeDeposits Scotland, “The vast majority of landlords and agents are responding positively where problems arise. However, it is worrying that so many tenants do not know where to turn when landlords fail to properly address their concerns.
“Tenants need to be empowered to challenge bad practices in the sector. This can only be achieved by ensuring they fully understand where to take complaints to when they have them. More needs to be done to ensure they have this vital information,” she concluded.
