Why we are engaging with Midlothian Council (Midlothian)
We are engaging with Midlothian about its services for people who are homeless and tenant and resident safety.
During 2023/24, we reviewed and compared the data for all local authorities from the Scottish Government’s national homelessness statistics. We also spoke to all local authorities to gather further information and assurance about their homelessness services. To assess the risks to people who are threatened with or experiencing homelessness we will engage with all local authorities during 2024/25 with a focus on the provision of appropriate temporary accommodation.
We will engage with Midlothian in particular about the following areas:
- the provision of temporary accommodation by Midlothian to people who are homeless; and
- outcomes for people who are homeless.
Midlothian has told us that a significant number of its tenants’ homes do not fully comply with electrical safety requirements which came into force in early 2022 and form part of the Scottish Housing Quality Standard. Midlothian is currently progressing inspections to provide Electrical Installation Condition Reports in all of its tenants’ homes.
What Midlothian must do
Midlothian must:
- send us the information we require in relation to its homelessness service;
- tell us about any emerging issues preventing it from fulfilling its statutory duty to provide temporary accommodation when it should and comply with the Unsuitable Accommodation Order; and
- send us monthly updates on progress on achieving compliance with electrical safety requirements.
What we will do
We will:
- review the information Midlothian provides about its homelessness service;
- meet with Midlothian by 31 July 2024 to discuss its homelessness service and engage as necessary;
- meet with Midlothian to seek assurance if it does not provide temporary accommodation when it should, or if it breaches the Unsuitable Accommodation Order;
- review Midlothian’s progress on achieving compliance with electrical safety requirements and engage as necessary; and
- update our published engagement plan in the light of any material change to our planned engagement with Midlothian.
Regulatory returns
Midlothian must provide us with the following annual regulatory returns:
- Annual Assurance Statement; and
- Annual Return on the Charter.
It should also notify us of any material changes to its Annual Assurance Statement, and any tenant and resident safety matter which has been reported to or is being investigated by the Health and Safety Executive or reports from regulatory or statutory authorities or insurance providers, relating to safety concerns.