Unnecessary visits to tenants homes must be avoided. Unless work is essential for the safety and security of occupiers, or for homes to be fit for human habitation, it should be postponed.

Current advice clearly advises against any non-essential travel and direct contact. All businesses and individuals should follow the attached advice and make every effort to stay at home where possible. If visiting the property is unavoidable, tenants must still be given the required notice before any essential visits, in line with the type of tenancy they have.

The most recent advice from the Scottish Government can be found here:

https://www.nhsinform.scot/coronavirus

All letting agents and landlords should close their offices if they can work remotely. If this is impossible then you may open your office only for the purpose of providing an emergency contact and response, however, you must not provide routine services, except remotely, as they are not considered essential during the current restrictions announced by the Scottish and UK Governments.

The Scottish Government recognises that it is particularly important to avoid people becoming homeless at this time. Tenants should be allowed to move into properties where a tenancy has already been agreed or where absolutely necessary (for example, where a prospective tenant may be at risk of becoming homeless or placed at risk by not being able to access alternative accommodation or to accommodate key workers).

Face-to-face contact should be limited where possible. In cases where face-to-face contact is necessary, distancing measures should be carried out by all parties – ensuring a distance of two meters is kept between anybody who is not from the same household, and limit the number of people present in line with public gathering rules. You should also follow Scottish Government advice on hygiene and cleanliness before, during and after visits.

Can I still carry out normal landlord or letting agent business if I follow the health guidelines including social distancing?

We are discouraging any unnecessary or avoidable movement of people be they, landlords, letting agents or tenants. There may be occasions where you have to visit a property or meet tenants, such as when carrying out urgent maintenance, Social distancing measures should take place.  Landlords and letting agents should postpone routine certification requirements during the crisis and carry them out as soon as possible after it is over.

Please remember to protect yourself and others by:

• staying at home where possible
• only going outside for essential food, health and work reasons
• staying 2 metres (6 feet) away from other people
• washing your hands regularly
• washing your hands as soon as you get home

We have been clear that no landlord should evict a tenant because they have suffered financial hardship due to Covid-19 and we expect landlords to be flexible with tenants facing financial hardship and signpost them to the sources of financial support available.

Our Coronavirus (Scotland) Bill will further protect renters in Scotland during the Covid-19 outbreak, in recognition of the severity of the situation we now find the country in. We are changing legislation to protect tenants from any eviction action for up to 6 months. This will apply to both the private and social rented housing sectors and will ensure the position is absolutely clear for all landlords and tenants in Scotland.

Further detail and advice will accompany the legislation.

Mortgage lenders have agreed to offer payment holidays of up to three months where this is needed due to Coronavirus-related hardship.

Where a tenant is unable to pay their rent in full the landlord – if a mortgagee – should discuss this with their lender, who can arrange a mortgage holiday where appropriate.

Rent will still be due under the terms of the tenancy agreement and tenants who are able to pay rent as normal and should continue to do so.

There are no ‘one-size fits all’ approach, as each tenant’s circumstance is different and some will be worse affected in terms of their ability to pay than others. It is important for landlords to be flexible, and have a frank and open conversation with their tenants at the earliest opportunity, to allow both parties to agree on a sensible way forward.

You should signpost tenants who are concerned about paying their rent to the financial assistance available.

What does the current situation mean for urgent repairs, or health and safety inspections to my property?

Good management requires regular review and maintenance of a property, but we understand that planned inspections will not be able to go ahead at this time. However, that is no reason to allow dangerous or urgent health and safety conditions to persist.

Where reasonable, safe for you and in line with other Scottish and UK Government guidance you should make every effort to review and address issues brought to your attention by your tenants and keep records of your efforts. However, to be clear – entry should only take place to carry out urgent health and safety and maintenance works. Social distancing should always take place in line with Scottish Government guidance. We expect landlords and letting agents meet all of their certification requirements that they cannot comply with during the crisis as soon as possible after it is over.

Urgent health and safety issues are those which will affect your tenant’s ability to live safely and maintain their mental and physical health in the property. This could include (but is not limited to):

• If there is a problem with the fabric of the building, for example the roof is leaking
• If your boiler is broken, leaving your tenant without heating or hot water
• If there is a plumbing issue, meaning your tenant does not have washing or toilet facilities
• If the white goods such as fridge or washing machine have broken, meaning the tenant is unable to wash clothes or store food safely (where contractors are willing and available to carry out the work)
• If there is a security-critical problem, such as a broken window or external door
• If there is a problem that makes the house in any way unfit for human habitation