Below are the frequently asked questions landlords have asked about our Social Housing Charter Technical Guidance. We've published these questions to support landlords in making their Annual Return on the Scottish Social Housing Charter.
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We have been unable to complete all of our Electrical Installation Condition Reports (EICRs) which were due. Should these be recorded as SHQS ‘fails’ or ‘in abeyance’? The Scottish Government’s SHQS Technical Guidance includes definitions for the SHQS classifications. It explains that ‘in abeyance’ can be used where planned works to reach some elements of the SHQS cannot be completed because of social reasons, e.g. because of the behaviour of the tenant. Here are some common examples we have come across, and how they should be recorded in terms of SHQS compliance. Landlord A was unable to carry out an electrical safety inspection (and generate an EICR) because it could not source a suitable contractor to carry out the inspection. Landlord A should record this property as an SHQS fail. Landlord B was unable to carry out an electrical safety inspection (and generate an EICR) because of staff shortages with the contractor appointed to carry it out. Landlord B should record this property as an SHQS fail. Landlord C was unable to carry out an electrical safety inspection (and generate an EICR) because the tenant of the property refused access. Landlord C should record this property as in abeyance. Landlords who have not applied the appropriate classifications in their ARC returns should submit a correction/s. Our Charter Corrections Policy sets out how to do this. Accurate record keeping will be important for landlords to be able to assure themselves about the reasons why any of their homes do not meet SHQS. |
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If used, should landlords be verifying the times/ data recorded by handheld devices used by workmen out on emergency repairs? |
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Landlords are not responsible for all aspects of neighbourhood management. In some areas certain aspects of management are the responsibility of other organisations and agencies, so can this be considered as a measure of a landlord’s performance? For most tenants, their landlord will be the first port of call if they are experiencing issues in their neighbourhood. If landlords are not responsible for certain aspects of neighbourhood management they can assist or signpost tenants to the appropriate organisation or sources of assistance. When asking tenants about their satisfaction landlords are able to provide context beforehand |
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If a property is being used by a contractor during a programme of work how should the void loss be calculated between the date the property becomes empty to the date the contractor signed an occupancy agreement? Should this period be included in the void loss? No, this period will not be included in the re-let times therefore it should not be included in the void loss. Again it should be treated as a ‘normal’ void when it is returned by the contractor. A clear audit trail needs to be in place to show the calculations |