Housing

[Ozyhibby]

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Nothing she did was reasonable or honourable. People had homes for life, at a low rent. They were maintained and there was a large social housing stock. If the Tories had embarked upon an extensive programme of new social housing, then maybe there was some benefit to society. As it was, they just ensured a housing crisis for future generations.

Worth mentioning that the government didn't own council houses, the local authority did. Also worth keeping in mind that social housing wasn't just schemes, it was across all areas (Housing Associations, like the Port of Leith did a lot to improve living conditions for people).

Younger contributors should also keep in mind that the disparity between wages and house prices in Edinburgh didn't really start to get too acute until the ultra commoditisation of property from the aspirational 80's onwards. The sale of the social housing stock was part of the immoral social engineering that began then and has never stopped.

Let’s not kid ourselves about the council being good landlords. They tended to be terrible at it and repairs when they happened were usually late and shoddy.
That’s not me advocating for or against Thatchers policy, just that the public sector rarely make good landlords.


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[superfurryhibby]

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Anytime there are horror stories about slum landlords on TV the landlord tends to be in the public sector.
Private landlords tend to look after their properties.


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Like this kind of looking after?

Leith Members Stuart and Rory and Violette and Fatima from Fountainbridge, just WON a total £5300 of rent rebates in negotiation with DJ Alexander!

Stuart and Rory had gone without heating for a year, and Violette, Fatima and their flatmates had broken drafty windows, mold and painted-over lights with no action for months and wanted compensation for the time their homes wasn't suitable to live in.
After low offers from their landlords they went to action a couple weeks ago to demand a meeting with executives. Two very successful negotiations later they agreed to £2.5k and £2.8k for the Leith and Fountainbridge cases respectively. This came on top of repairs to the property from DJ Alexander, such as new windows which improves the quality of our homes long term.
If you are having repair issues in your home with you letting agent, housing association or the council, come along to one of our meetings.
"

[Ozyhibby]

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Like this kind of looking after?

Leith Members Stuart and Rory and Violette and Fatima from Fountainbridge, just WON a total £5300 of rent rebates in negotiation with DJ Alexander!

Stuart and Rory had gone without heating for a year, and Violette, Fatima and their flatmates had broken drafty windows, mold and painted-over lights with no action for months and wanted compensation for the time their homes wasn't suitable to live in.
After low offers from their landlords they went to action a couple weeks ago to demand a meeting with executives. Two very successful negotiations later they agreed to £2.5k and £2.8k for the Leith and Fountainbridge cases respectively. This came on top of repairs to the property from DJ Alexander, such as new windows which improves the quality of our homes long term.
If you are having repair issues in your home with you letting agent, housing association or the council, come along to one of our meetings.
"

I wasn’t saying there were no bad private landlords, just that the overall quality is better in private sector.


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[superfurryhibby]

Here's a festive good news story. It perfectly illustrates why Scotland needs rent controls. Community action from Living Rent-worth your support, they do excellent work.

https://www.livingrent.org/rent_adju...ul_and_sesilia


Rent adjudication win for Paul and Sesilia
Paul and Sesilia tell their story of fighting their rent hike!



In September, we were given notice of a rent increase, and found ourselves in a tight spot like many tenants across the country.

We found ourselves faced with a 10% rent increase! This just 6 months after being made to pay two months rent upfront (in addition to the deposit) because the landlord and letting agent weren't sure we could afford the rent as it was.

Considering that the rent increase was significantly above both CPI and CPHI inflation at the time the notice was received (and over the duration of the tenancy) and lack of any improvements made to the property, we decided to contact Living Rent for the first time and promptly joined our union.

Having spoken to Niamh (the local organiser for our branch) and establishing what our choices were, we elected to exert our rights and challenge the rent increase through referring it to the Rent Officer to adjudicate. With Living Rent at our side we also offered to negotiate with the landlord. We proposed to start from 2.6% (the inflation figure at the time). Unfortunately, the letting agent refused to entertain a negotiation on the basis of having started the rent adjudication process. Not having the chance to negotiate worried us as we believed it would be our best bet to fight the increase as the few (expensive) properties on the market in the area at the time made us think that the Rent Officer would adjudicate in line with the proposed increase. However, we were extremely surprised to learn during the Rent Officer's quick inspection (which also functioned as a nerve racking first meeting with our landlord) that they considered rents over the past year which gave us a glimmer of hope.

Within the week we had received the Rent Officer's provisional decision. A 3.5% increase. Compared to the 10% which was proposed, and the fact that we had proposed to start negotiations at 2.6%, we were ecstatic but we still had to nervously wait another two weeks for the time in which the landlord (or ourselves) could appeal. Eventually, the final decision came through. No change and no appeal. The landlord will have another two weeks to appeal (this time to the First-tier Tribunal rather than to the Rent Officer themselves) but we are very pleased with how the Rent Officer's adjudication went.

[Andy Bee]

New EPC rules being proposed for the rental market. The obvious being all rental properties must be Band C. EPC ratings must be obtained every year or when a tenancy ends (whatever is sooner), HMO properties have 24 months to comply but after that must comply after every new tenancy (how does that work in a 10 bed HMO? I'm assuming that'll be tweaked). Properties who can't comply because they're older or listed must show a £10k investment towards becoming Band C and that's not retrospective i.e. they must spend £10k after the new proposals are implemented. Properties cannot be marketed until an EPC is obtained or the £10k has been proven for older houses. An estimated 30% of rental properties were sold last year in the UK, not sure if that involved Scotland but it's a significant amount.

[Ozyhibby]

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New EPC rules being proposed for the rental market. The obvious being all rental properties must be Band C. EPC ratings must be obtained every year or when a tenancy ends (whatever is sooner), HMO properties have 24 months to comply but after that must comply after every new tenancy (how does that work in a 10 bed HMO? I'm assuming that'll be tweaked). Properties who can't comply because they're older or listed must show a £10k investment towards becoming Band C and that's not retrospective i.e. they must spend £10k after the new proposals are implemented. Properties cannot be marketed until an EPC is obtained or the £10k has been proven for older houses. An estimated 30% of rental properties were sold last year in the UK, not sure if that involved Scotland but it's a significant amount.

And they wonder why rents are rising?
Annual EPC certificate? Who do they think is paying for that?


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[lapsedhibee]

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New EPC rules being proposed for the rental market. The obvious being all rental properties must be Band C. EPC ratings must be obtained every year or when a tenancy ends (whatever is sooner), HMO properties have 24 months to comply but after that must comply after every new tenancy (how does that work in a 10 bed HMO? I'm assuming that'll be tweaked). Properties who can't comply because they're older or listed must show a £10k investment towards becoming Band C and that's not retrospective i.e. they must spend £10k after the new proposals are implemented. Properties cannot be marketed until an EPC is obtained or the £10k has been proven for older houses. An estimated 30% of rental properties were sold last year in the UK, not sure if that involved Scotland but it's a significant amount.

Is this a new announcement/suggestion, Mr Andy? If so, link please. EPC ratings every year sounds a bit mad!

[Ozyhibby]

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Is this a new announcement/suggestion, Mr Andy? If so, link please. EPC ratings every year sounds a bit mad!

As far as I can see most of it has been kicked into the long grass as it’s pretty unworkable.
If a property is rated only D and landlord can’t get it any higher is he to make the tenants homeless?


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[Ozyhibby]

https://www.theguardian.com/society/...conomy-at-risk

The importance of housing. Without fixing it, the rest of the economy will suffer.


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[Moulin Yarns]

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Is this a new announcement/suggestion, Mr Andy? If so, link please. EPC ratings every year sounds a bit mad!

https://cairnestateagency.com/landlords-are-you-ready-for-the-changes-to-epc-regulations/#:~:text=EPC%20requirements%20are%20changing%20in, What%20is%20an%20EPC%3F

First one on Google search. It's not just rented properties, private owned homes are also affected. Not a snowball chance in hell of my house meeting the regulations. Over 200 years old, stone walls!

[lapsedhibee]

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https://cairnestateagency.com/landlords-are-you-ready-for-the-changes-to-epc-regulations/#:~:text=EPC%20requirements%20are%20changing%20in, What%20is%20an%20EPC%3F

First one on Google search. It's not just rented properties, private owned homes are also affected. Not a snowball chance in hell of my house meeting the regulations. Over 200 years old, stone walls!

Thanks but there's no mention there of the £10k spend requirement. Most of what's on letting agents' websites is out of date.

[lapsedhibee]

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As far as I can see most of it has been kicked into the long grass as it’s pretty unworkable.
If a property is rated only D and landlord can’t get it any higher is he to make the tenants homeless?

No, from Andy's information he is to spend at least £10k on bumping up the property's energy efficiency rating, and even if it's still D the tenants will be able to live there.
Tenants will end up paying for that of course, one way or another.

[Moulin Yarns]

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Thanks but there's no mention there of the £10k spend requirement. Most of what's on letting agents' websites is out of date.

https://quinnergy.co.uk/epc-regulations-2030/

That's another one, both links are October this year.

https://www.gov.scot/policies/energy-efficiency/energy-efficiency-in-homes/

Government website.

[lapsedhibee]

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https://quinnergy.co.uk/epc-regulations-2030/

That's another one, both links are October this year.

https://www.gov.scot/policies/energy...ency-in-homes/

Government website.

Is there any mention in these links of the £10k spend or the annual EPC requirement, which is what Andy raised and I am asking about? If so I can't see it.

[Ozyhibby]

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No, from Andy's information he is to spend at least £10k on bumping up the property's energy efficiency rating, and even if it's still D the tenants will be able to live there.
Tenants will end up paying for that of course, one way or another.

That the tenant pays is well established so it seems unfair to put the costs on tenants 5 years before owner occupiers?


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[Moulin Yarns]

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Is there any mention in these links of the £10k spend or the annual EPC requirement, which is what Andy raised and I am asking about? If so I can't see it.

I've no idea, I'm not wasting my time other than finding recent information

[Ozyhibby]

More info here.

https://scottishlandlords.com/news-a...ncy-proposals/


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[lapsedhibee]

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More info here.

https://scottishlandlords.com/news-a...ncy-proposals/

Yes, that's from 2023. I'm assuming Andy's post refers to something more recent than that.

[lapsedhibee]

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That the tenant pays is well established so it seems unfair to put the costs on tenants 5 years before owner occupiers?

Following the smoke alarms precedent.

[Andy Bee]

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Is this a new announcement/suggestion, Mr Andy? If so, link please. EPC ratings every year sounds a bit mad!

It's still being proposed and my information comes from the vague outlines on the UKG website and the opinion of a few landlords that I know have been following this very closely over the the last year or two. The yearly EPC checks seem to be a goer but HMOs would have serious problems if they had to get an EPC every time a tenant gave up a room so a solution to that is needed. The £10k isn't on the UKG website as far as I'm aware but I'm assured that's what they're looking into. All just proposals at the moment.


https://www.gov.uk/government/consul...ildings-regime

[lapsedhibee]

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It's still being proposed and my information comes from the vague outlines on the UKG website and the opinion of a few landlords that I know have been following this very closely over the the last year or two. The yearly EPC checks seem to be a goer but HMOs would have serious problems if they had to get an EPC every time a tenant gave up a room so a solution to that is needed. The £10k isn't on the UKG website as far as I'm aware but I'm assured that's what they're looking into. All just proposals at the moment.

[Ozyhibby]

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It's still being proposed and my information comes from the vague outlines on the UKG website and the opinion of a few landlords that I know have been following this very closely over the the last year or two. The yearly EPC checks seem to be a goer but HMOs would have serious problems if they had to get an EPC every time a tenant gave up a room so a solution to that is needed. The £10k isn't on the UKG website as far as I'm aware but I'm assured that's what they're looking into. All just proposals at the moment.


https://www.gov.uk/government/consul...ildings-regime

Just the sort of uncertainty that investors love. No wonder no new houses or flats are getting built.


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[Stairway 2 7]

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Russian gains in the Ukraine can't be good news in this war. Trump has also acknowledged he plans a meeting with Putin and wants to bring peace. Very worrying for the Ukrainian government.

"Russia claims that its forces have captured the front-line town of Kurakhove in eastern Ukraine's Donetsk region.

The town has borne the brunt of Russian advances in recent months and is a stepping-stone to the key logistical hub of Pokrovsk.

Ukraine has not acknowledged the fall of Kurakhove, which is 35km (21 miles) south of Pokrovsk.

Fierce fighting has also been under way in Russia's Kursk region in recent days after Ukraine launched a counter-attack on Sunday"

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/cr56gr6p49eo

"Rump has promised to negotiate an end to the war in Ukraine soon after he takes office on 20 January and has expressed scepticism about US military and financial support for Kyiv.

"President Putin wants to meet," he said on Thursday.

"He has said that even publicly and we have to get that war over with. That's a bloody mess."

A spokesman for Ukraine's foreign ministry said on Friday that Kyiv expected high-level talks to take place with the Trump administration after the inauguration".

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/cz7e3qzpn9xo

Ukraine has gained in Russia this week also but apart from people who get excited by minor gains like above, I think everyone would agree its a stalemate.

I saw an satellite image of territorial gains in the last 2 years and you'd need a magnifying glass. There will be a deal next year unfortunately for Ukraine. Russia failed to take Ukraine but it will have to lose some land. Some boot lickers will take it as a win but I don't think Putin will be able to sell half a million lives, social separation, European independence from Russian gas and oil. All for a little section of Ukraine, bizarre

[grunt]

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Russian gains in the Ukraine can't be good news in this war. Trump has also acknowledged he plans a meeting with Putin and wants to bring peace. Very worrying for the Ukrainian government.

Housing?

[Hibrandenburg]

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Housing?

Lebensraum im Osten?

[Ozyhibby]

https://bsky.app/profile/tobyn.bsky..../3lfmgcvv7e22c
Depressing thread on UK housing.


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[Stairway 2 7]

Yet to see a study that shows increased supply doesn't lower rents

https://www.sciencedirect.com/scienc...51137724000512

@Sam_Dumitriu
NEW STUDY on the impact of YIMBY reforms in New Zealand.

Lower Hutt in Wellington made it much easier to get permission to build at higher densities.

The result?

🏗️ Housing Starts TRIPLED!
📉 Rents down by 21%

[Ozyhibby]

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Yet to see a study that shows increased supply doesn't lower rents

https://www.sciencedirect.com/scienc...51137724000512

@Sam_Dumitriu
NEW STUDY on the impact of YIMBY reforms in New Zealand.

Lower Hutt in Wellington made it much easier to get permission to build at higher densities.

The result?

Housing Starts TRIPLED!
Rents down by 21%

That’s just crazy talk. We need to make it harder for people to supply housing and prices will inevitably fall and we’ll all be given a free unicorn.


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[danhibees1875]

Given rent controls are so hotly talked about.

https://www.rightmove.co.uk/properti...hannel=STU_LET

**Please note rent is temporarily reduced from £3,000 per calendar month till 31st July 2025 from the start date of the tenancy, after the introductory period the rent will return to £3,000 per calendar month.**

Presumably, one can pluck a large number as the baseline rent and indefinitely give discounts which are slightly less each year to work back to a situation where rents increase as desired for the landlord?

[Ozyhibby]

https://www.theguardian.com/society/...droidApp_Other

Council reducing council houses rather than increasing.


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