New Tribunal figures show a “relatively benign” situation between landlords and tenants in Scotland, according to a letting agency boss.

The number of applications to the First-tier Tribunal: Housing and Property Chamber from April 2023 to March 2024 increased by 10% on the previous year to 5,078, of which 2,687 were evictions. While it doesn’t list grounds for eviction, its latest report states that, “it is thought that there has been an increase in eviction applications on the grounds that the landlord intends to sell the property”.

David Alexander, CEO of Edinburgh-based lettings firm DJ Alexander, says most evictions aren't because of rent arrears or difficulties with tenants but because landlords are seeking to sell or because they want to move into the property for their own or a relative’s use.

Alternative

The Tribunal provides an alternative to the Sheriff Court for resolving private housing disputes including repairs, illegal evictions, and letting agent regulation. In England, most tenancy disputes go through the County Court, Property Ombudsman or Property Redress Scheme.

“What is striking is how few applications are made for what most would regard as the historically fundamental reasons for appealing to the Tribunal,” says Alexander. The figures show that tenancy deposits and property factor issues were both on 303, repairs accounted for 297 (mostly down to third-party applications by councils), letting agents 75, while there were only 13 rent assessment applications across the 12-month period.

Assume

“Areas where one would assume there could be contentious issues such as repairs, deposit issues, or rent assessments represent just 0.2% of the total number of properties in the PRS, which is a sign of a sector working efficiently, effectively and for the mutual benefit of landlord and tenant,” he adds.

While most applications received (83%) involve the PRS, the number of cases being brought to the Tribunal represents just 1.2% of all landlords in the PRS in Scotland.

Victim Support Scotland has just launched a national antisocial behaviour initiative designed to strengthen how Scotland’s PRS recognises, responds to and supports victims of antisocial behaviour.

Landlords are being promised training and free, confidential help so they can “better understand the impact of antisocial behaviour and respond in a fair, compassionate and informed way”. Tenants will also be directed to support and offered access to safe, voluntary mediation.

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