News

AGM

The Centre held its AGM on Wednesday 22nd October 2008. The AGM was well attended and the Annual Report was presented. Speakers at this year’s AGM were Jill Cronin, Policy and Strategy Manager South Ayrshire Council and Lorna Trainer Director of L & G Learning Scotland Ltd.

The meeting was chaired by Alex Anderson the Acting Chairperson of the Management Committee and there was a lively question and answer session.

New Repairs duties and Rights for Private Sector

From September 2007 Private Sector tenants will have additional rights in terms of repairs.  New duties will be place on Local Authorities in terms of the Private Rented Sector. Details can be found in the Housing (Scotland) 2006. Further information regarding these rights can be found here.

Local Housing Allowance

From April 2008 all new Private Rented Sector tenants who are eligible for Housing Benefit will be paid Local Housing Allowance.

Priority Need South Ayrshire

South Ayrshire Council has extended automatic priority need to all homeless single people under 25 from April 2008. Prior to this only 16 and 17 year olds had automatic priority need: South Ayrshire Housing and Homelessness.

Section 11 Homelessness, etc (Scotland) Act 2003

This places a duty on Private Landlords, Registered Social Landlords and Lenders who are raising an action to evict a residential occupier to formally notify the Local Authority. This is designed to allow potential intervention which could prevent homelessness. This duty is came into force on 1st April 2009.