Question reference: S5W-31653
- Asked by: Andy Wightman, MSP for Lothian, Scottish Green Party
- Date lodged: 8 September 2020
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Current status: Answered by Kevin Stewart on 22 September 2020
Question
To ask the Scottish Government what action it has taken to communicate the availability of the rent adjudication service offered by Rent Service Scotland, in light of 0.0001% of households in the private rented sector reportedly having used the service over the last two years.
Answer
All relevant Private Residential Tenancy (PRT) related documentation produced by the Scottish Government provides information to tenants on the rent adjudication process.
We also recently introduced a new ‘Know Your Rights’ page at the beginning of every PRT tenancy agreement. This specifically sets out that a tenant can apply to Rent Service Scotland for adjudication, if they have been notified of a rent increase by their landlord, which they believe to be unreasonable. The PRT and the Easy Read Notes that must accompany every PRT each also contain sections titled ‘Rent Increases’ which provide comprehensive information about rent adjudication.
On the Rent Increase Notice, that a landlord must give their tenant three months’ in advance of a proposed rent increase, it makes very clear what a tenant needs to do if they wish to make a referral to Rent Service Scotland so that their rent can be adjudicated by a Rent Officer.
More generally, in April 2020 we undertook a social media campaign signposting tenants’ to further information on their tenancy rights. In August 2020 tenants’ also rights featured in the Scottish Government TV, radio and social media financial awareness campaign in partnership with Citizens Advice Scotland. This included information about how tenants could access advice about managing rent from Citizens Advice Scotland both online or from a bureau.
You will be aware that I also recently wrote to every private rented home in Scotland, where I again highlighted key rights and signposted tenants to the Scottish Government’s private rental rights page ( https://www.mygov.scot/private-rental-rights/ ), which provides information on rent adjudication and Rent Service Scotland. This page is frequently updated to provide the latest information for private renters.