Housing

Covid-19 tenant grant fund

If you are behind on your rent due to circumstances caused by the pandemic, this scheme may be able to help.

The Scottish Government has provided all local authorities in Scotland with funding to support residents who are struggling with rent arrears directly caused by the pandemic. The fund is meant to aid tenants most at risk of repossession or homelessness. 

If you're a tenant renting accommodation in East Renfrewshire and you're behind on your rent due to circumstances caused by the pandemic, this scheme may be able to help. 

Find out more and apply.

Council house bids

Properties that are available to let will now be advertised online and applicants invited to make bids.

Initially bids will be restricted to those in the most urgent housing need. However, over the coming weeks, bids will be invited from other categories of applicants.

If you've any questions or concerns contact us.

Repairs

From Monday 26 April 2021, we will be permitted to undertake non-essential repairs to council homes.  There is a  backlog but our team will be in touch in the coming weeks to arrange any repairs which were on hold due to restrictions. Please note we will prioritise the most urgent repairs.

We will attempt to contact every customer with an outstanding repair for but if we are unable to confirm an appointment the repair will be cancelled. 

We cannot address non-essential repairs if anyone in the household is isolating due to COVID 19.

Please note we continue receiving a high volume of calls, so where possible please report a non-emergency repair online or e-mail our team on customerfirstrepairs@eastrenfrewshire.gov.uk.

Homelessness

If you're homeless or facing homelessness, contact us, staff are available to help.

Sheltered housing 

The sheltered housing officer service has now resumed. Please note that social distancing and hygiene practices are in place to protect housing staff, residents and visitors.

Individual advice is being issued to each complex on a regular basis to reassure residents.

Rent 

If you're experiencing difficulties paying your rent, staff are available to offer advice, contact us. 

You can also contact us and seek support from our Money Advice and Rights team. 

Private landlords and tenants

The Coronavirus (Scotland) Act 2020 is now in force and gives additional protection to tenants from eviction during the outbreak by increasing the notice period a landlord must give a tenant.

The Scottish Government has updated their guidance to include information on these changes as well as when to do safety checks and the approach to gas certificates. 

Read Scottish Government guidance (opens new window).

All other services are suspended and will be reviewed in line with changes to the current government restrictions.

Please note, the Scottish Association of Landlords, Homes for Good and the Chartered Institute of Housing have produced joint guidance for landlords and letting agents to help in these difficult times. 

View the guidance.

Find out about the new Advice Direct Scotland debt advice service (opens new window).

Read about the grant fund to support tenants who have fallen into rent arrears (opens new window).

Read about the six-month extension of increased notice period for evictions (opens new window).

Complete the private landlord impact of pandemic survey (opens new window).

Landlord pandemic impact study

The University of Glasgow is carrying out research funded by UKRI (UK Research and Innovation) to understand how the COVID-19 pandemic has affected landlords. Findings will be shared with stakeholders to support policy led decisions and the planning of resources to support both landlords and tenants.

The survey will take between 5 and 15 minutes. 

Complete the online survey (opens new window).