Home truths is a briefing by Citizens Advice Scotland on our evidence and insight into housing issues.

This is the fourth volume of the Energy Brief: a short but significant publication highlighting unique evidence from our network. 

The Citizens Advice network magazine issue 18

Citizen Advice Scotland's response to the Housing (Scotland) Bill consultation.

This consultation sought views on how powers within the Housing (Scotland) Bill could be used to exempt certain types of properties from rent control, circumstances where rents could be increased above the level of the rent cap and clarify how joint tenancies in the private sector are ended.

Key points CAS made are:

• CAS supports reform in the private rented sector, and the introduction of a fair and equitable
  rent control system that is co-designed by and works for both tenants and landlords. It is
  imperative that the system is accessible and easy to understand, with clear routes to redress
  and signposting to advice and support.
• Extensive exemptions to rent controls and allowing rent increases over a stated cap in some
  circumstances will create a confusing system for both tenants and landlords, and risks severe
  disadvantage particularly to tenants. We do not support exemptions unless they are for very
  well-evidenced reasons and must be monitored closely to understand their impact.
• We are keen to see a fairer system for ending joint tenancies, without the risk of hardship or
  homelessness for any party involved.

Citizens Advice Scotland response to the Pathways to Work: Reforming Benefits and Support to Get Britain Working Green Paper