Is the buy-to-let market a property bubble waiting to burst?

GLC's Principal Solicitor, Mike Dailly writes: "SCOTLAND’S private rented sector is a phenomenon. It has trebled in size over the last 15 years and now makes up over 15 per cent of all Scottish households. For our cities the story is more profound.  

Scottish Government figures published last month show that private lets represent 19 per cent of all homes in Glasgow, Edinburgh and Perth. For Dundee the figure rises to 23 per cent and peaks at 26 per cent in Edinburgh.

How did this happen? Almost half a million homes have been lost from Scotland’s social rented sector since the right to buy was introduced in 1980. While the Scottish Parliament ended that right last July, the impact coupled with the growth of the buy-to-let mortgage market has fuelled the private let sector".  Read the full column in The Herald here (Saturday, 7 October 2017).

Is the buy-to-let market a property bubble waiting to burst?

GLC's Principal Solicitor appointed to Scottish Government's Homelessness & Rough Sleeping Action Group

A panel of homelessness experts from across Scotland met for the first time yesterday (5 October 2017)  as work to address the challenges of rough sleeping, and how temporary accommodation can best be utilised, officially got underway.

Announced as part of the Programme for Government last month, the short-term Homelessness and Rough Sleeping Action Group came together with the immediate task of outlining urgent recommendations to minimise rough sleeping this winter.

The group, which draws on expertise from across the sector, will examine how the Scottish Government’s commitment to end rough sleeping can be achieved and how best a new £50 million fund can support this.  Membership of the Action Group includes:

• Jon Sparkes, chief executive, Crisis (chair)
• Russell Barr, former moderator, Church of Scotland
• Maggie Brunjes, Glasgow Homelessness Network
• Mike Dailly, Govan Law Centre
• David Duke, Street Soccer Scotland
• Suzanne Fitzpatrick, Heriot Watt University
• Josh Littlejohn, Social Bite
• Lorraine McGrath, Simon Community Scotland/Street Wise
• Susanne Miller, Glasgow City Council
• John Mills, Fife Council & ALACHO
• Shona Stephen, Queens Cross Housing Association
• Alison Watson, Shelter Scotland

Housing Minister Kevin Stewart said: "The Homelessness and Rough Sleeping Action Group will be recommending immediate steps we can take to minimise rough sleeping, both this winter and for good, as well as ways to transform temporary accommodation. The members bring a wide range of expertise, experience and enthusiasm and I know they will provide invaluable advice".

"The group will be engaging with all partners who deal with homelessness, including in local authorities and the third sector, so we can harness the wealth of knowledge available. We are committed to ending rough sleeping, preventing homelessness, and transforming outcomes for those who experience it. The action group and the new £50m fund are important steps in achieving this."

GLC's Principal Solicitor appointed to Scottish Government's Homelessness & Rough Sleeping Action Group