The tenant will be required to provide, as proof of identification, a copy of their birth certificate or passport and two other documents, which confirm their current address. Examples of documentary evidence include, but are not limited to:
Short Scottish Secure Tenancy
A Short Scottish Secure Tenancy was introduced in Section 34
of the Housing (Scotland) Act 2001. It may be offered where
any of the following apply:
When Short Scottish Secure Tenancy is offered, 3 main conditions must be met:
The SSST Agreement outlines the terms and conditions of the tenancy.
Scottish Secure Tenancy
A Scottish Secure Tenancy was introduced in Section 11 of the
Housing (Scotland) Act 2001. A tenancy will only be an SST
if:
The Scottish Secure Tenancy Agreement outlines the terms and
conditions of the tenancy.
More information about Short Scottish Secure Tenancies is available
in the Council’s Anti-social Behaviour Procedures.
After 6 months the landlord may take action to recover possession using a fast-track procedure provided by the 2001 Act. Alternatively, in certain circumstances the Short SST may automatically convert to a full SST after 12 months or a landlord may wish to convert the Short SST to a full SST where it considers appropriate.
Local authorities are entitled, although not obliged, to use the Short SST in the circumstances prescribed in paragraphs 1-7 of Schedule 6 of the 2001 Act, provided that:
The prescribed circumstances are listed below along with examples of situations in which the Council might use the Short SST.
These examples are not exhaustive and the Council may use its discretion to offer the Short SST in other circumstances, which comply with the provisions and spirit of the 2001 Act, and it is fair and reasonable to do so in the circumstances.
This might be used where an existing tenant of the Council is being offered a transfer to another property but the Council has been granted an order for recovery of possession against the tenant on the ground of anti-social behaviour during the last 3 years.
This might also be used where an applicant was previously the tenant of another landlord where an order for recovery of possession has been granted against the tenant on the ground of anti-social behaviour during the last 3 years.This might be used where an applicant, or a member of the applicant’s household, who is to be offered accommodation by the Council is known to be the subject of such an anti-social behaviour order.
It may also be used to convert an existing SST to a Short SST, by serving appropriate notice. Where an ASBO is taken out against the tenant or a member of the household during the period of the SST the Council may convert the tenancy to a Short SST.
Also, where a tenant has been granted a SST and it subsequently comes to light that the tenant or member of the household is subject to an ASBO granted at a previous address, the Council may convert the tenancy to a Short SST. See 'Starting a Short Scottish Secure Tenancy'
This may be used for temporary lets to incoming key workers.
This may be used to provide temporary accommodation to homeless persons where it is intended that this temporary accommodation should be provided for more than six months.
The Homelessness Team will continue to use a non-secure tenancy for the provision of temporary accommodation where:When the provisions of the Homelessness etc. (Scotland) Act 2003 come into force this section will be reviewed.
This may be used where a tenant under a full SST is decanted to another property in order to allow for repair or improvement work to the property for which they are secure tenant. The tenant may be offered a Short SST at the new property, which would run until returning to their original property.
This may be used to offer Short SSTs to young persons who are considered to be in need of housing support services. The Short SST can be used as a temporary tenancy, which will then either convert to a SST if the tenancy is found to be successful, or can be terminated if it is considered that the tenancy is not successful, in which case the Homeless Team would provide alternative temporary accommodation.
In all other cases, The Council will explore housing support options where this is considered appropriate in the circumstances.
Housing Benefit
Short SST tenants are liable for the payment of rent
in the same way as tenants under a standard SST. Tenants may
apply for Housing Benefit if they consider they might be entitled
to assistance with their rent, and have responsibility to apply
for Housing Benefit where appropriate.
Standard of Empty House
Each empty property will be repaired to the Council's
letting standard prior to the new tenant signing the tenancy
agreement.
Decoration Allowance
A decoration allowance will be awarded where damage is in excess
of 1 square metre per room. For the purposes of awarding the
decoration allowance, damage will mean partially stripped rooms;
paper badly torn, walls poorly painted or broken tiling. If the
collective damage is less than 1 square metre, a maximum of one
room allowance will be awarded. No allowance will be awarded
where the entire room has been stripped. The Council may arrange
to decorate an empty house in extreme or unique circumstances.
This will be at the discretion of the Area Housing Manager.
The decoration allowance will be awarded at a specific rate per room. This rate will be agreed by the Council and may increase at the start of the financial year. A cheque will be raised after the tenant has signed the tenancy agreement. If the tenant is transferring from another Council property, and has rent arrears or any other housing debt, the decoration allowance will be used to off set the debt. The Council will aim to ensure that the tenant receives the cheque within 2 weeks of signing the agreement.
Home Contents Insurance
The Council offers tenants the option of joining a corporate Home
Contents Insurance Scheme. Tenants are able to pay in instalments
at the same time as paying their rent.
Tenancy Start Visits
A Council Officer will aim to visit the new tenant within 6 weeks
of the tenancy starting. This is referred to as a “New
Tenancy Visit”. The purpose of this visit is to ensure
that the tenant has moved in and to deal with any issues or concerns
that the tenant has. The officer carrying out the visit will
also ensure that the tenant is managing to pay their rent and
that all other aspects of the tenancy are satisfactory. A checklist
will be used by officers as a guide during the visit. At this
visit the tenant will have the opportunity to discuss matters
relating to the tenancy, ask questions and offer feedback about
the process they have gone through.
Lock-ups
South Ayrshire Council has a number of lock-ups throughout
the district, which are available for let to South Ayrshire Residents
who own a car, motorbike, moped, motor scooter or small van.
Application forms are available from each of the six area
offices and applications on the waiting list are held in
date order. Applications will not be accepted from current or
former tenants of South Ayrshire Council, where they have outstanding
arrears or outstanding rechargeable repairs, until all debts
are paid in full.
Vacant lock-ups are allocated to applicants who have waited the
longest for a lock-up in that area.
Applicants must provide their registration document for the vehicle
to be ‘housed’ in the lock-up, one further proof
of their principal address and one proof of identification. Tenancy
Agreement for Lock-up Garage.
Succession / Assignation
In the event of the death of a tenant there is no right for family
members to succeed to the tenancy of any lock-up previously
let to the deceased. Consideration will, however, be given
to transferring lock-ups where reasonable grounds exist, i.e.
transferring a lock-up to a wife following the death of a husband.
Terminations
The tenancy of a lock-up may be terminated by giving 14 days
notice in writing.
On expiry of a notice of termination, which has not been rescinded
and the tenant has failed to return the keys to the local housing
office, the Council reserve the right to make entry to the lock-up
and supply and fit a new lock. Any goods or belongings found
in the lock-up at that time will be deemed to be abandoned and
disposed of as the Council sees fit. All costs incurred in repossessing
a lock-up in this manner will be recoverable from the tenant.
Repossession of a lock-up
A lock up tenancy can be terminated by serving a standard Notice
to Quit. This notice gives the lock-up tenant 28 days notice
that the lock-up is being repossessed.
If the tenant fails to give up the lock-up by the date specified
in the Notice to Quit, then entry should be forced to the lock-up
and the locks should be changed.
If goods have been left within the lock-up they should be disposed
of in accordance with the abandoned goods procedure.
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