SERVICES FOR COMMUNITIES
Properties for Mid Market Rent
Questions and Answers
Application Process
1. How are applications assessed?
Answer – Applications are assessed according to whether they meet
the eligibility criteria and then on a first come first serve basis.
2. I need to give a months notice on my current tenancy. Can the
new tenancy start in a month’s time?
Answer – No. The new tenancy will start on the next available Monday
after you have viewed the property and confirmed that you wish to rent
the property.
3. If I am not successful in getting one of the properties, will my
name be held on a waiting list?
Answer – No. The Council will not hold a waiting list for these
properties. When vacancies become available in the future information
will be given in the weekly Choice ‘freesheet’ and on the choice
website.
4. Why do I have to complete a separate application for these
properties rather than bid for them through Choice?
Answer – Because these properties have different rent levels and
different eligibility criteria from usual Council houses, a separate
application process has been developed.
5. What are the eligibility criteria?
Answer – Priority will be given to households meeting the following
criteria:
a) At least one adult in the household must be in employment;
b) The household size is appropriate to the number of bedrooms in the
available property;
c) The household must live in the property as their only home.
6. Will you require evidence that one member of the household is in
employment?
Answer- Yes, you would need to provide salary slips for the previous 3
month period. The Housing officer will discuss your particular
circumstances with you as part of the application process.
7. I have already registered for housing in Edinburgh by completing
an EdIndex application form. If I accept a mid market rent
property, does this affect my EdIndex application?
Answer – If you accept one of these properties you circumstances will
have changed significantly, therefore if you wish to remain registered
on EdIndex you will need to submit a new application form to record
your change in circumstances.
About the tenancy
8. What kind of tenancy will I have?
Answer – A Scottish Secure Tenancy.
9. What happens if I lose my job after the tenancy starts?
Answer – As long as you ensure that your rent is paid, this will have no
impact on your tenancy. If you lose your job you should let us know if
this is going to make it difficult for you to pay your rent. We can provide
advice on any welfare benefits that you may be entitled to.
10. Do I have the Right to Buy the property?
Answer – You may be able buy your home after you have held a
qualifying secure tenancy for five years. However the Scottish
Government is currently considering changes to the Right to Buy rules.
New Right to Buy rules could therefore be introduced in the next few
years. If you would like more information about applying to buy a
Council tenancy you can contact the House Sales Section on 0131 529
7635.
11. If there is a problem or if I’m not happy in the property, can I end
my tenancy?
Answer – Yes. You can end your tenancy at any time however you
need to provide one months notice in writing.
Please note it is essential that you leave a clear balance on your rent
account prior to moving out of your tenancy as all former tenancy
arrears will be collected by our representatives which may affect your
credit rating. Please also ensure that your tenancy is left in a clean and
tidy condition free of all belongings. You should also arrange to make
good any internal damage which has occurred out with normal wear
and tear.
You should advise utility companies of your tenancy end date and
arrange for redirection of mail.
About the Costs
12. Why are the rents higher than other Council rents?
Answer – We recently bought the properties and the rents charged are
at a level required to cover costs. The rents are also comparable with
other mid market rents in Edinburgh.
Monthly rents for 2009/10 will be:
Size
2 bedroom
3 bedroom
3 bedroom
Type
Flat
Flat
House
Rent Level
£510 per calendar month
£555 per calendar month
£570 per calendar month
13. Will the monthly rent charges increase?
Answer- The rent charges for the properties will be reviewed each year
and you would get 4 weeks notice of any increase in the amount to be
paid. Any change in the rent charges would normally be applied at the
beginning of April each year.
14. Why do applicants have to be in employment?
Answer – Because the rents are higher than usual Council rents, we
believe that they are most affordable to people who are in employment.
We do not want to encourage people to rent these properties if they
cannot afford the rent payments.
15. Can I apply for Housing Benefit to help with my rent?
Answer – If you work part time or are on a low income you may be
entitled to some assistance with paying your rent. We will provide a
quick calculation of your earnings/outgoings to help you decide if you
can afford to rent a mid market rent tenancy before you accept the
tenancy.
16. Will I have to pay a deposit at the start of the tenancy?
Answer- No but rent is due for payment in advance so you will need to
make arrangements to pay the first months rent when you sign for your
tenancy.
17. Are there any additional charges for any services provided to
maintain the common areas?
Answer – No, the costs for maintaining the common areas and
cleaning stairs etc are included within your fortnightly rental charge for
your tenancy. This work will be carried out by Lothian Homes who are
contracted to maintain the common areas in blocks and the
surrounding landscape.
18. What Council Tax band are the properties in?
Answer – The Council Tax bandings for the properties vary depending
on the size of the property, property type and floor level. The bands for
the properties fall into the following 3 bands and information on the
specific band for each property will be provided during the application
process.
Council Tax Band
Charge for 2009/10
Band B
£1042
Band C
£1389
Band D
£1563
19. Do I have to take out insurance?
Answer - Edinburgh Council maintains buildings insurance covering
damage to its properties. Personal property and internal decoration is
not included in this insurance and it is important that our tenants take
out their own home contents cover. The Council has a low cost
insurance scheme for tenants and information will be provided before
you sign up to a tenancy.
About the Property
20. Are the properties furnished?
Answer – The properties have carpets, blinds and white goods but no
other furnishings.
21. Do I have my own parking space?
Answer – There is car parking available beside all the properties. For
the flats in the area there is free on street parking next to the blocks,
the houses have individual driveways.
22. Can I get cable/satellite?
Answer – A communal Sky dish has been installed for the whole
development. Customers need only contact Sky who will then arrange
to plug them in. Private dishes are not permitted.
23. Is there a telephone line already installed?
Answer – Yes. All properties have telephone lines installed.
24. Can I put a shed in the garden?
Answer – You may be able to put up a shed if your property has an
area of garden ground. Before putting up a shed you must contact the
neighbourhood office at East Edinburgh to get permission.
25. When is the rubbish collected?
Answer – The weekly collection of wheelie bins and any communal
bins will be on a Tuesday. Any wheelie bins should be placed on the
pavement or roadside no later than 7am and returned to your home
after they have been emptied.
There will also be a multi-material recycling collection on a Thursday.
You can recycle the following clean materials in your kerbside boxes.
• blue box: cans and glass, paper in the blue bag, textiles in the
Salvation Army bags
• red box: card, cardboard, cardboard drinks cartons and cereal boxes
Details of your next multi-material kerbside collection can be found by
entering your postcode at www.greenboxday.co.uk
Arrangements can be made to have large or bulky items removed by
telephoning Council’s Waste Management Service on 529 3030.
Repairs and Maintenance
26. Will I be responsible for repairs to the property?
Answer - You are responsible for the repair or replacement of any
fixture or fitting, which is damaged as a result of neglect or
carelessness by yourself, any member of your family or anyone visiting
your home. You are also responsible for lost keys, broken keys and
meeting costs associated with forced entry to the property. The
Council is responsible for keeping your property wind & watertight and
in a habitable condition.
27. Am I responsible for cleaning the windows?
Answer – You are responsible for cleaning windows of your property,
although windows in common areas, eg stairwells, will be cleaned by a
contractor and this is covered by the rent charge for your property.
28. Why do I have to report repairs to the East Neighbourhood Office
during office hours rather than direct to the Repairs Call Centre?
Answer – These properties are new and have some different features
to our other properties. Because of this, we have a slightly different
repairs reporting procedure.
29. Will the Council replace carpets, blinds and white goods if they
break?
Answer – If white goods break during your tenancy due to normal wear
and tear we will replace them, but we will not replace the carpets or
blinds.
30. Who is responsible for cleaning the common areas/stairwell?
Answer – There is a caretaker on site who will clean each common
stair once a week. They will also pick up litter from the common areas
each day although tenants have a responsibility to help keep these
areas clean by not dropping litter or leaving rubbish etc in common
grounds or stairs.
31. Who is responsible for ensuring the grass is cut?
Answer - Lothian Homes are contracted to maintain the area and will
maintain the landscaped areas surrounding the properties on a
fortnightly basis during the growing season (March to October). If there
is garden ground allocated with any tenancy the tenant will be
responsible for cutting the grass and keeping the area in a clean and
tidy condition.
Problems/Complaints
32. I’m having problems with my neighbours. What should I do?
Answer - In the event of any disputes between neighbours, efforts
should be made, in the first instance, to resolve the situation amicably.
If problems persist, please contact your Community Safety Officer for
assistance. They can be contacted by the East Neighbourhood Office
on 0131 529 3111.
Edinburgh Council takes issues of anti social behaviour very seriously.
Tenants causing nuisance, alarm or distress to neighbours or local
residents will be investigated and depending on the outcome of the
investigations action will be taken. Where the anti-social behaviour is
of a serious nature this may mean that tenants are at risk of losing their
home.
33. I’m not happy with the standard of the cleaning in the common
stairs or the regular maintenance of the areas. What should I do?
Answer – Any tenant unhappy with caretaking or maintenance service
should contact East Edinburgh's Property Team on 0131 529 3111