- Asked by: Graham Simpson, MSP for Central Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
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Date lodged: Thursday, 09 August 2018
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Current Status:
Answered by Kevin Stewart on 30 August 2018
To ask the Scottish Government what the required minimum Energy Performance Certificate (EPC) level is for temporary accommodation.
Answer
There is no minimum EPC level required for temporary accommodation. However, where temporary accommodation is provided in properties which are usually let as social housing, the property will be required to meet the Energy Efficiency Standard for Social Housing (EESSH), equivalent to EPC band D or C by 2020.
- Asked by: Graham Simpson, MSP for Central Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
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Date lodged: Wednesday, 08 August 2018
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Current Status:
Answered by Kevin Stewart on 30 August 2018
To ask the Scottish Government when it wil begin consultation on owner-occupied properties being mandated to comply with energy efficiency measures and any related financial penalties for owner-occupiers who do not comply.
Answer
The Energy Efficient Scotland consultation ran from May to the end of July 2018 and sought views on the proposed phasing of voluntary and mandatory action to improve the energy efficiency of owner occupier properties. Responses to the consultation are now being analysed and the Scottish Government will respond to the consultation in due course.
A date for a future detailed consultation has not yet been set. Its timing should be appropriate to ensure that the owner occupied sector is able to be fully engaged with the need for improvement to the energy efficiency of all properties, as achieving the targets set for Energy Efficient Scotland is likely to mean intervening in people’s homes in a way we have never done before.
- Asked by: Graham Simpson, MSP for Central Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
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Date lodged: Wednesday, 08 August 2018
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Current Status:
Answered by Kevin Stewart on 30 August 2018
To ask the Scottish Government how it will ensure value for money for home owners and landlords who utilise funding through public funding routes for energy efficiency measures.
Answer
The Scottish Government fund Home Energy Scotland (HES) to provide free and impartial energy advice to all callers via a Freephone number and can offer face to face support where this is the best option for the householder. Our programmes use qualified assessors to identify suitable measures for the property and installs must be carried out by contractors who comply with national industry standards such as PAS 2030.
The Scottish Government believes that consumer protection and quality assurance must underpin delivery of an energy efficient Scotland. In the route map we published in May, we adopted the principles of robust consumer protection; high standards of quality; customer care; competence, skills and training: as well as health and safety. We have set up a Short Life Working Group with sector stakeholders that will use these principles to develop a new quality assurance framework that will be operational in 2020.
- Asked by: Graham Simpson, MSP for Central Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
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Date lodged: Wednesday, 08 August 2018
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Current Status:
Answered by Kevin Stewart on 30 August 2018
To ask the Scottish Government how it will implement energy efficiency measures in mixed-tenure tenements for social rent and private rented sector properties if shared approval for costs by all owners is not achieved.
Answer
The Scottish Government recognises the challenges associated with repairs and improvements, including the installation of energy efficiency measures, in mixed-tenure tenements where there can be social and private tenants as well as owner occupiers. Support is provided for private sector households as well as social landlords to help ensure that measures are installed in mixed tenure properties, focusing primarily upon helping households that are in fuel poverty and vulnerable to cold weather.
At the parliamentary debate on the condition of tenement housing stock on 23 May, the agreed motion included a commitment to carry out a review of relevant legislation and how tenements can be better maintained and enhanced. This will include consideration of potential costs and collective maintenance by owners and will also look at the best role for property factors. Discussions are underway on how best to take this forward.
The review will be mindful of existing and proposed energy efficiency standards, including associated costs, and how these can best be met in mixed-tenure tenements.
- Asked by: Graham Simpson, MSP for Central Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
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Date lodged: Wednesday, 08 August 2018
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Current Status:
Answered by Kevin Stewart on 30 August 2018
To ask the Scottish Government whether it is considering penalties for private rented sector landlords that fail to comply with energy performance certificate (EPC) regulations and, if so, whether it will provide details of these.
Answer
Landlords are required to provide Energy Performance Certificates (EPCs) at the point of rental under the Energy Performance of Buildings (Scotland) Regulations 2008, as amended. Regulation 17 of the Regulations provides enforcement authorities with the power to impose a penalty charge notice. The amount payable for dwellings or buildings that are ancillary to dwellings is £500.
We consulted in 2017 on proposals to require a minimum EPC rating in private rented properties, including a proposal that local authorities would be able to issue civil fines to landlords whose properties failed to meet minimum standards. The Energy Efficient Scotland Route Map confirmed that we will bring forward standards which will apply from April 2020. Detail of the enforcement process, including relevant penalties, will be set out in draft regulations in 2019.
- Asked by: Graham Simpson, MSP for Central Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
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Date lodged: Thursday, 09 August 2018
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Current Status:
Answered by Ash Denham on 17 August 2018
To ask the Scottish Government how much unpaid rent has been disputed through the First Tier Tribunal for Scotland (Housing and Property Chamber) since 1 December 2017.
Answer
This question relates to operational matters that are the responsibility of the Scottish Court and Tribunals Service (SCTS) corporate body. The question has been passed to the Chief Executive of the SCTS who reply in writing within 20 days.
- Asked by: Graham Simpson, MSP for Central Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
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Date lodged: Thursday, 09 August 2018
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Current Status:
Answered by Ash Denham on 17 August 2018
To ask the Scottish Government how many applications the First Tier Tribunal for Scotland (Housing and Property Chamber) has received for evictions and civil proceedings for rent arrears (rule 70) since 1 December 2017; how many of these applications have received a hearing, and how many of these hearings have been successful in securing reimbursement of rent arrears.
Answer
This question relates to operational matters that are the responsibility of the Scottish Court and Tribunals Service (SCTS) corporate body. The question has been passed to the Chief Executive of the SCTS who reply in writing within 20 days.
- Asked by: Graham Simpson, MSP for Central Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
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Date lodged: Thursday, 09 August 2018
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Current Status:
Answered by Ash Denham on 17 August 2018
To ask the Scottish Government how much unpaid rent has been disputed through the Sheriff Court in each year since 2012.
Answer
This question relates to operational matters that are the responsibility of the Scottish Court and Tribunals Service (SCTS) corporate body. The question has been passed to the Chief Executive of the SCTS who reply in writing within 20 days.
- Asked by: Graham Simpson, MSP for Central Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
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Date lodged: Wednesday, 08 August 2018
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Current Status:
Answered by Ash Denham on 17 August 2018
To ask the Scottish Government how many Property Factor Enforcements Orders have not been complied with each year under the First Tier Tribunal for Scotland (Housing and Property Chamber); how many of these have been referred to Police Scotland and/or the Crown Office and Procurator Fiscal Service, and how many of these referrals have been taken to court, broken down by the outcome.
Answer
This question relates to operational matters that are the responsibility of the Scottish Court and Tribunals Service (SCTS) corporate body. The question has been passed to the Chief Executive of the SCTS who reply in writing within 20 days.
- Asked by: Graham Simpson, MSP for Central Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
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Date lodged: Thursday, 09 August 2018
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Current Status:
Answered by Ash Denham on 17 August 2018
To ask the Scottish Government how many applications the First Tier Tribunal for Scotland (Housing and Property Chamber) has received for evictions and civil proceedings for notice to quit (rule 66) since 1 December 2017; how many of these applications have received a hearing, and how many of these hearings have been successful in securing an eviction.
Answer
This question relates to operational matters that are the responsibility of the Scottish Court and Tribunals Service (SCTS) corporate body. The question has been passed to the Chief Executive of the SCTS who reply in writing within 20 days.