Chamber
Meeting of the Parliament 04 June 2013
04 Jun 2013 · S4 · Meeting of the Parliament
Item of business
Private Rentals (Deposits)
I am delighted to contribute to this debate on the subject of protecting tenants’ deposits. I thank Patrick Harvie for recognising the growing importance of the issue surrounding the private rented sector, and I congratulate him on securing time in the chamber to consider the implementation of the new tenancy deposit schemes in greater detail.
Protecting the deposits of tenants in privately rented accommodation is an issue that I am sure the majority of members in the chamber have dealt with in their constituencies or regions. They will be aware that private landlords throughout the country have benefited from the difficulties faced by first-time buyers, the unintended consequences of the bedroom tax and the devastating reality of high unemployment. That combination of factors means that the size of the private rented sector has doubled in the past 10 years and that it now accounts for 12 per cent of all housing stock.
I am aware of several tenants in my region, often young ones, whose deposits have been unfairly retained for a highly questionable justification and often with no explanation at all. That is why I welcome the introduction of the tenancy deposit schemes and the legal requirement to register deposits in one of three approved schemes. However, I am profoundly concerned that, since the introduction of the requirement, only half of all deposits have been registered.
Citizens Advice Scotland has considered that failure in some detail. It highlighted that 55 per cent of tenants are completely unaware that their landlords are legally required to register deposits, despite the fact that it is the tenants who are required to take action if the landlords have not registered their deposits in one of the compulsory schemes. Furthermore, Citizens Advice Scotland confirmed that nearly 30 per cent of all housing inquiries are concerned with the private rented sector and, specifically, the unfair retention of deposits by landlords.
The Scottish Government must recognise the scale of the challenge that it faces in achieving compliance with the deposit schemes, and it must provide the additional resource that will be necessary to achieve the principal aim of ensuring that tenants’ deposits are not withheld by unscrupulous landlords.
In response to my recent question S4W-15152, the Scottish Government failed to commit to any changes in the way in which it enforces the deposit schemes or the support that it awards to charities such as Citizens Advice Scotland that are on the front line in the battle to protect vulnerable tenants from exploitation.
Citizens Advice Scotland, Shelter Scotland and the NUS Scotland have all recognised that the Scottish Government must do more to make tenants and landlords aware of the tenancy deposit schemes. Those organisations understand that the system is currently unworkable and that too many landlords are still avoiding their responsibilities to those who rent their properties.
I urge the Scottish Government to re-examine the difficulties in the implementation of the three tenancy deposit schemes and to work with organisations such as Citizens Advice Scotland to ensure that the private rented sector is free from the questionable practices of exploitative landlords.
17:19
Protecting the deposits of tenants in privately rented accommodation is an issue that I am sure the majority of members in the chamber have dealt with in their constituencies or regions. They will be aware that private landlords throughout the country have benefited from the difficulties faced by first-time buyers, the unintended consequences of the bedroom tax and the devastating reality of high unemployment. That combination of factors means that the size of the private rented sector has doubled in the past 10 years and that it now accounts for 12 per cent of all housing stock.
I am aware of several tenants in my region, often young ones, whose deposits have been unfairly retained for a highly questionable justification and often with no explanation at all. That is why I welcome the introduction of the tenancy deposit schemes and the legal requirement to register deposits in one of three approved schemes. However, I am profoundly concerned that, since the introduction of the requirement, only half of all deposits have been registered.
Citizens Advice Scotland has considered that failure in some detail. It highlighted that 55 per cent of tenants are completely unaware that their landlords are legally required to register deposits, despite the fact that it is the tenants who are required to take action if the landlords have not registered their deposits in one of the compulsory schemes. Furthermore, Citizens Advice Scotland confirmed that nearly 30 per cent of all housing inquiries are concerned with the private rented sector and, specifically, the unfair retention of deposits by landlords.
The Scottish Government must recognise the scale of the challenge that it faces in achieving compliance with the deposit schemes, and it must provide the additional resource that will be necessary to achieve the principal aim of ensuring that tenants’ deposits are not withheld by unscrupulous landlords.
In response to my recent question S4W-15152, the Scottish Government failed to commit to any changes in the way in which it enforces the deposit schemes or the support that it awards to charities such as Citizens Advice Scotland that are on the front line in the battle to protect vulnerable tenants from exploitation.
Citizens Advice Scotland, Shelter Scotland and the NUS Scotland have all recognised that the Scottish Government must do more to make tenants and landlords aware of the tenancy deposit schemes. Those organisations understand that the system is currently unworkable and that too many landlords are still avoiding their responsibilities to those who rent their properties.
I urge the Scottish Government to re-examine the difficulties in the implementation of the three tenancy deposit schemes and to work with organisations such as Citizens Advice Scotland to ensure that the private rented sector is free from the questionable practices of exploitative landlords.
17:19
References in this contribution
Motions, questions or amendments mentioned by their reference code.
- S4W-15152 Question
In the same item of business
The Deputy Presiding Officer (Elaine Smith)
Lab
The final item of business is a members’ business debate on motion S4M-06681, in the name of Patrick Harvie, on protecting tenants’ deposits. The debate will...
Patrick Harvie (Glasgow) (Green)
Green
I put on record my thanks to the 27 MSPs who have added their names in support of the motion, representing four political parties and independents who repres...
Alex Johnstone (North East Scotland) (Con)
Con
I welcome the opportunity to contribute to such an important debate, and I congratulate Patrick Harvie on securing it and bringing the issue to the chamber.T...
Patrick Harvie
Green
Will Alex Johnstone give way?
Alex Johnstone
Con
I am actually over my time and should be stopping. However, I am sure that the opportunity will come along.Effective enforcement can do a great deal more tha...
The Deputy Presiding Officer
Lab
Mr Johnstone has advised me that he has to leave the debate early because he has parliamentary business to attend to.17:15
Anne McTaggart (Glasgow) (Lab)
Lab
I am delighted to contribute to this debate on the subject of protecting tenants’ deposits. I thank Patrick Harvie for recognising the growing importance of ...
Marco Biagi (Edinburgh Central) (SNP)
SNP
I welcome the chance to debate the matter because, in my constituency, 41 per cent of households now live in the private rented sector. I do not know what th...
Elaine Murray (Dumfriesshire) (Lab)
Lab
I, too, congratulate Patrick Harvie on securing the debate, as the failure of many landlords to comply with the regulations by the required date last month i...
Malcolm Chisholm (Edinburgh Northern and Leith) (Lab)
Lab
I congratulate Patrick Harvie on lodging an important motion on protection of tenants’ deposits. It has become an increasingly important issue over the past ...
Kezia Dugdale (Lothian) (Lab)
Lab
I congratulate Patrick Harvie on bringing the issue to the chamber. My first job out of university was as a welfare adviser at Edinburgh University Students ...
The Minister for Housing and Welfare (Margaret Burgess)
SNP
I, too, thank Patrick Harvie for bringing the issue to the chamber for debate. It is clearly important to all of us. I have listened carefully to what has be...
Patrick Harvie
Green
Would the minister consider ensuring that no landlord has any legal justification for withholding a deposit that has not been lodged with an approved scheme?
Margaret Burgess
SNP
Landlords must lodge deposits with an approved scheme—that is why the schemes were set up and those are the rules of the schemes. If a landlord does not do t...
Marco Biagi
SNP
We are all interested in the enforcement working. What conversations has the Government had with local authorities on the difficulties and challenges that th...
Margaret Burgess
SNP
We have set up a working group. The strategy makes it clear that we will work with the Convention of Scottish Local Authorities, given that local authorities...