Hansard

The Convener SNP

Agenda item 2 is consideration of the Tenancy Deposit Schemes (Scotland) Amendment Regulations 2019 Draft, which make minor improvements to the operation of ...

The Minister for Local Government, Housing and Planning (Kevin Stewart)

Good morning, convener. I am pleased to present the Tenancy Deposit Schemes (Scotland) Amendment Regulations 2019 for the committee’s scrutiny. If the regula...

The Convener SNP

Thank you, minister. Do members have any questions?

Andy Wightman (Lothian) (Green) Green

Do the regulations strengthen the interests of tenants more than those of landlords, or of landlords more than tenants?

Kevin Stewart

There is a balance to be struck in all these cases, and I think that we have struck that balance. The regulations will ensure that there is fairness across t...

Andy Wightman Green

Figure 14 in the “Review of Tenancy Deposit Schemes in Scotland” shows whether tenants and landlords felt that they were treated fairly at the end of the ten...

Kevin Stewart

There is always a balance to be struck. I did not do the analysis so I will pass over to Ms McHaffie, because her team undertook the analysis of the consulta...

Charlotte McHaffie (Scottish Government)

There is a challenge around some of the evidence that is required when a deposit goes into a dispute. That is why the schemes have an adjudication process, w...

Andy Wightman Green

The regulations will not change that very much.

Charlotte McHaffie

They will not change the adjudication process. The schemes can continue to look at the process and at how information can be provided to landlords at an earl...

Graham Simpson (Central Scotland) (Con) Con

How would the regulations speed up payment to a tenant when the landlord does not want any money back?

Kevin Stewart

Again, there is a balance to be struck in getting all this absolutely right. The review showed that, in the main, the scheme is working well; that is why onl...

Charlotte McHaffie

At the moment, there is a requirement for the schemes to go back to the tenant for confirmation when the landlord has said that they do not want anything, wh...

Graham Simpson Con

Okay—so the landlord will not have to go back to the tenant. They will just pay them the money.

Charlotte McHaffie

Yes.

The Convener SNP

Thank you. As there are no further questions, we move to agenda item 3, which is formal consideration of motion S5M-18218. Minister, do you wish to speak?

Kevin Stewart

No. Motion moved, That the Local Government and Communities Committee recommends that the Tenancy Deposit Schemes (Scotland) Amendment Regulations 2019 dra...

The Convener SNP

The committee will report on the outcome of the instrument in due course. Does the committee agree to delegate authority to me as convener to approve a draft...

The Convener SNP

Thank you very much, minister. I suspend the meeting briefly to allow a change of witnesses. 09:39 Meeting suspended. 09:41 On resuming—