Housing associations putting "barriers" to homeless tenants: GLC

Social landlords in Scotland have been challenged on what is alleged to be a growing practice of demanding a deposit from prospective tenants.

According to Govan Law Centre, housing associations in Glasgow are now regularly requiring payment of the first month's rent up front, even from homeless people on benefits whom they have a duty to rehouse.

GLC said this placed an "insurmountable barrier" in the way of many homeless applicants, and undermined the Scottish Government's and COSLA's progressive strategies to prevent homelessness in Scotland. It also demonstrated "a failure by some housing associations to properly consider the needs of vulnerable people".

Alasdair Sharp, GLC’s prevention of homelessness senior manager, commented: “While it is standard practice in the private rented sector for one month’s rent to be required in advance, Scottish housing associations receive significant public subsidy, enjoy charitable status and numerous statutory powers.

“The reason for this is because the Scottish Government and Parliament recognise the fundamental need for social housing in Scotland – and that it has a different role to play than the private sector. Social landlords enjoy a privileged position to ensure that the most vulnerable and less advantaged in our society are treated justly and fairly.”

GLC is urging the Scottish Government to consider using its delegated powers to issue guidance under s 5(7) of the Housing (Scotland) Act 2001 to clarify that it is not acceptable to require an advance payment of rent as a condition of a person being accommodated as a homeless person, and to use the forthcoming Housing (Scotland) Bill to make an appropriate legislative amendment.