Chamber
Plenary, 18 Jun 2008
18 Jun 2008 · S3 · Plenary
Item of business
Tenancy Deposit Protection Scheme
I, too, must apologise for having to leave before the end of the debate.
I congratulate Claire Baker on securing tonight's debate. Scottish Conservatives fully acknowledge that many tenants rely on the return of their deposit in order to pay the up-front deposit on their new property. We also acknowledge that delays in the return of deposits can lead to difficulty and hardship. Claire Baker is correct to say in her motion that Scottish ministers have the power, under the Housing (Scotland) Act 2006 to introduce a tenancy deposit scheme if they wish to do so. However, it seems to us premature of ministers to embark on such a course without having sound evidence for so doing. We should await the outcome of the Government's surveys of private tenants and landlords. Particular issues relating to students' deposits certainly need to be tackled.
Having consulted a number of private sector landlords and landlords organisations in preparation for tonight's debate, I would like to raise a few points. If a property is managed properly, if an inventory is made up and if tenants are given a chance to comment on the inventory at the commencement of a lease, the number of difficulties at the end of the lease will be reduced. The motion refers to the "successful introduction" of tenancy protection in England and Wales, but one landlords organisation put it to me that the Westminster Government made a complete mess of the introduction of that scheme. If ministers here intend to go ahead with such a scheme, they should try to learn from what happened in England and Wales.
Despite what I have said about the introduction of the scheme in England and Wales, I understand that its operation has since proceeded relatively smoothly. Indeed, the latest figures show that less than 2 per cent of tenancies have ended with a dispute over the deposit.
A more general concern is over the need for politicians fully to comprehend the impact of extra regulations on the private sector. Scottish Conservatives are well aware of that impact, and we will not support regulations that will have a negative impact on costs and on business. Scottish landlords and agents are still trying to deal with the complexities of the landlord registration scheme and the regulations on hard-wired smoke detectors, and energy performance certificates are looming in January. Ministers should always exhaust all other options, such as the raising of awareness of good practice, before resorting to the imposition of regulations. Regulations must be proportionate.
The landlord accreditation scheme, which has been developed by the Scottish Association of Landlords and the Scottish Rural Property and Business Association, has the potential to drive up standards and to be a really positive thing for the rented sector. The Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors operates a voluntary deposit scheme, too.
I congratulate Claire Baker on securing tonight's debate. Scottish Conservatives fully acknowledge that many tenants rely on the return of their deposit in order to pay the up-front deposit on their new property. We also acknowledge that delays in the return of deposits can lead to difficulty and hardship. Claire Baker is correct to say in her motion that Scottish ministers have the power, under the Housing (Scotland) Act 2006 to introduce a tenancy deposit scheme if they wish to do so. However, it seems to us premature of ministers to embark on such a course without having sound evidence for so doing. We should await the outcome of the Government's surveys of private tenants and landlords. Particular issues relating to students' deposits certainly need to be tackled.
Having consulted a number of private sector landlords and landlords organisations in preparation for tonight's debate, I would like to raise a few points. If a property is managed properly, if an inventory is made up and if tenants are given a chance to comment on the inventory at the commencement of a lease, the number of difficulties at the end of the lease will be reduced. The motion refers to the "successful introduction" of tenancy protection in England and Wales, but one landlords organisation put it to me that the Westminster Government made a complete mess of the introduction of that scheme. If ministers here intend to go ahead with such a scheme, they should try to learn from what happened in England and Wales.
Despite what I have said about the introduction of the scheme in England and Wales, I understand that its operation has since proceeded relatively smoothly. Indeed, the latest figures show that less than 2 per cent of tenancies have ended with a dispute over the deposit.
A more general concern is over the need for politicians fully to comprehend the impact of extra regulations on the private sector. Scottish Conservatives are well aware of that impact, and we will not support regulations that will have a negative impact on costs and on business. Scottish landlords and agents are still trying to deal with the complexities of the landlord registration scheme and the regulations on hard-wired smoke detectors, and energy performance certificates are looming in January. Ministers should always exhaust all other options, such as the raising of awareness of good practice, before resorting to the imposition of regulations. Regulations must be proportionate.
The landlord accreditation scheme, which has been developed by the Scottish Association of Landlords and the Scottish Rural Property and Business Association, has the potential to drive up standards and to be a really positive thing for the rented sector. The Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors operates a voluntary deposit scheme, too.
In the same item of business
The Deputy Presiding Officer (Alasdair Morgan):
SNP
The final item of business is a members' business debate on motion S3M-1865, in the name of Claire Baker, on a tenancy deposit protection scheme for Scotland...
Motion debated,
That the Parliament is concerned that the withholding of deposits unreasonably continues to be a problem for tenants in the private rented sector; notes that...
Claire Baker (Mid Scotland and Fife) (Lab):
Lab
I am delighted to speak on tenancy deposit schemes in my maiden members' business debate. It is always a pleasure to be involved in a debate about a matter o...
Robert Brown (Glasgow) (LD):
LD
I apologise, Presiding Officer, as I may have to leave before the end of the debate. The debate is important and is on an issue on which several members, par...
Stuart McMillan (West of Scotland) (SNP):
SNP
I thank Claire Baker for bringing the debate to the Parliament. The issue is important to many people and this is an important time to conduct the debate, gi...
Claire Baker:
Lab
Will the member take an intervention?
Stuart McMillan:
SNP
May I just make some progress first? Thank you.The scheme in England and Wales has been in operation for only one year, and no formal evaluation has yet been...
Claire Baker:
Lab
I believe that enough research—by the NUS, Shelter and other organisations—has been carried out to allow the Government to make progress.A circular was issue...
Stuart McMillan:
SNP
I am sure that, if what Ms Baker says were the case, the Government would look into it, but I am not sure that it is the case. I am sure that the minister wi...
Jamie McGrigor (Highlands and Islands) (Con):
Con
I, too, must apologise for having to leave before the end of the debate.I congratulate Claire Baker on securing tonight's debate. Scottish Conservatives full...
Robert Brown:
LD
That is fine for the good landlords. Does the member have a remedy for the bad landlords, which is where the issue arises?
Jamie McGrigor:
Con
I will come to that in my conclusion.I acknowledge the concerns that lie behind Claire Baker's motion, but ministers should tread with caution before burdeni...
Dr Richard Simpson (Mid Scotland and Fife) (Lab):
Lab
I congratulate Claire Baker on securing this important debate. I was president of the Scottish Union of Students almost 40 years ago and failure to return de...
Jim Tolson (Dunfermline West) (LD):
LD
I congratulate Claire Baker on securing this debate on a tenant deposit protection scheme, which I am sure that most of us would agree is an important subjec...
Johann Lamont (Glasgow Pollok) (Lab):
Lab
I congratulate Claire Baker on securing the debate. In doing so, I reflect on the frustrations of falling on hard times, since the words that were quoted ear...
Mike Pringle (Edinburgh South) (LD):
LD
I congratulate Claire Baker on securing this worthwhile debate.As several members have remarked, everyone has an anecdote about someone whose rent deposit wa...
The Minister for Communities and Sport (Stewart Maxwell):
SNP
I congratulate Claire Baker on securing the debate.I listened carefully to the debate and appreciate members' concerns about the impact that unfairly withhel...
Johann Lamont:
Lab
I am concerned that the minister suggested that the Government is inhibited by the timescale for the evaluation of the schemes in England and Wales. Is it no...
Stewart Maxwell:
SNP
I will come to many other points, but the fact is that the scheme in England has not been formally evaluated. Many members said that it is a shining example ...
Johann Lamont:
Lab
I may have the wrong information, so will the minister clarify when the group last met and when it will meet again?
Stewart Maxwell:
SNP
The group last met in June last year. A meeting was offered to the group in September, but its members decided that they could deal with the issues at hand t...
Johann Lamont:
Lab
Will the minister give way?
The Deputy Presiding Officer:
SNP
The minister is just winding up.
Stewart Maxwell:
SNP
Jamie McGrigor said that there was only a 2 per cent dispute rate in England. That is true, but only two thirds of landlords have joined the scheme. I sugges...
Meeting closed at 18:29.