Discovering it’s good to talk can help landlords and tenants resolve problems

We deal with a variety of questions, worries and concerns from our member landlords and letting agents. They range from ensuring a contract is compliant with the law, which electrical tests need to be done after a refurbishment or when an energy performance certificate should be renewed.

John Blackwood, Scottish Association of Landlords

But the calls that cause me the most concern are the ones that make me think, “it didn’t have to be this way.” Where early intervention and often just common sense could have nipped a problem in the bud.

Sadly, this happens most often when a member asks what to do when a tenant has run up large rent arrears. My sadness comes from knowing that, with a large arrear already accumulated, it will be a harder problem to solve in order to keep the tenant in their home, especially when I know a simple conversation months before would likely have resulted in a simple solution. For example, when a tenant is having financial difficulties, we advise our members on how best to support tenants through these difficult times with a view to getting themback on track with their rental payments.

It is normally no-one’s fault that these situations spiral out of control. A lot of people find talking about financial matters very difficult, even embarrassing. A landlord might not want to pry about a private matter, a tenant’s home is theirs after all and it is not the role of a landlord to intrude. Meanwhile a tenant might be scared that their landlord will ultimately end their tenancy.

It doesn’t have to be this way.

It is in the best interests of landlords and tenants to continue a tenancy wherever possible. A tenant wants to stay in a good quality home and a landlord wants a tenant who looks after the property.

Both tenants and landlords must feel able to talk to each other. There is nothing wrong with a landlord asking how a tenant is getting on and nothing wrong with a tenant telling their landlord things are tough.

These kinds of steps, taken early, can prevent a major problem from ever arising and can actually build the kind of relationship needed to sustain tenancies.

Landlords can also be a source of information for tenants and help them access the support that is available. They can proactively signpost tenants to free, confidential and independent advice.

If someone doesn’t feel able to initiate this kind of conversation themselves, there are an increasing number of free resolution services available to broker a reasonable solution. We are working with SafeDeposits Scotland (SDS), one of the independent bodies responsible for holding and mediating disputes over tenants’deposits, to promote their free service, SDS Resolution (https://www.sdsresolution.com/). They are able to help reach agreements on reducing arrears or long-term payment plans which allows a tenancy to continue.

It will take a long time to begin to break cycles of false assumptions of how the relationship between a landlord and tenant should be. But the place to begin to build those relationships is with good and simple communications between both sides. Trust will develop and that is the foundation that the future of the private rented sector in Scotland must be based on.

John Blackwood, Scottish Association of Landlords