2. Scottish Homes Rented Housing
2.2 Rights and Responsibilities of Scottish Homes Tenants
Scottish Homes tenants' rights and responsibilities
Every Scottish Homes tenant is given a Tenants' Handbook, which provides much useful and easy-to-follow information on the rights and responsibilities of Scottish Homes tenants and the services provided for them.
Repairs and maintenance
The responsibility for repairs is shared between Scottish Homes and the tenant, the tenant being responsible for internal decoration, furnishings and removable fittings (clothes lines, TV aerials, curtain rails, etc) whilst Scottish Homes remains responsible for maintaining the fabric and permanent fittings of the building in good condition.
Repairs are categorised by Scottish Homes as emergency, urgent, routine or 'other' and dealt with accordingly.
Adaptations
Scottish Homes will put adaptations into tenants' homes when a tenant or a member of the household needs them, but only on the recommendation of the local occupational therapist.
'Right to Buy'
Tenants of Scottish Homes, like Council tenants, have a right to buy their houses. See the section on Right to Buy under Council Housing 'Rights and Responsibilities'.
Once an application to buy a Scottish Homes house has been received it is dealt with by Miller Mitchell Housing Services who can be contacted via the local Scottish Homes office or by telephoning 0131 225 7774. It usually takes around six months from the application being received for the house to be sold.
Scottish Homes has produced a leaflet 'Becoming a home owner' which is available from its local offices.
Transfers and mutual exchanges
Schemes for transfers and mutual exchanges between Scottish Homes, housing association and Council tenants, whether with the Council or other UK tenants, are described in Section 1.5.
