LOCAL IMPACT OF NATIONAL EMERGENCY
SIÂN SWINTON
TIG price increases
Tighean Innse Gall were forced to roll back an unexpected price hike on their Rent to Buy homes
in Lochmaddy, according to potential buyers.
The buyers were informed of the price rise, which amounted to a few hundred pounds per month,
via email and say that there was no indication of why the price had increased so much, but that
they were aware of another valuation being conducted on the homes.
After coming under fire for the decision to increase the price so late on in the process TIG were
forced to roll back to their original price but, still, at least one of the potential tenants has secured
housing elsewhere and another considered legal action.
TIG were unable “to talk about individual cases as it would breach GDPR” but were able to give
information on the Rent to Buy scheme in general.
“TIG is placed under financial constraint from our Bank and the Scottish Government funding
rules and guidance insist that if any of the assumptions change (eg an increase in the market
value) then the rent to buy purchase agreement should reflect that.”
The Rent to Buy scheme is intended to provide low cost home ownership to those who would
otherwise be unable to get on the property ladder. The scheme sees the potential buyer/tenant
sign a Rent to Buy Purchase Agreement and pay a monthly rent, part of which will become the
10% deposit after the tenant has been in the property for five years. At the end of the five year
period the tenant must apply for a mortgage and buy the property.
When asked what would happen if the tenant was unable to secure a mortgage and buy at the
end of the tenancy period, TIG said: “The Rent to Buy Purchase Agreement is the formal contract,
and tenants must purchase at the end of the 5-year tenancy.”
National crisis, local strategy
The Scottish Government declared a national housing emergency in May. Rent to Buy is one
solution to a much wider housing crisis affecting the whole of Scotland but very acutely felt in
Uist.
According to estate agents, housing developers and the Comhairle soaring prices, changing
legislation and a lack of appropriate land to build on are just some of the causes of our shortage
in housing.
Over the festive period the Comhairle conducted a survey on its next Local Housing Strategy
(LHS). The survey was open for six weeks over Christmas and New Year and attracted just 41
responses from the Southern Isles.
The survey highlighted that issues such as low housing supply, population decline, fuel poverty
and cost of building materials were of great concern to respondents.
Representatives from the Comhairle held consultation meetings in Uist in early May to hear from
those involved in various community groups including community councils, churches and housing
action groups.
At least two areas of land in South Uist have been offered to Hebridean Housing Partnership as
development areas, including a site in Daliburgh that has planning permission and a building
warrant secured, but have been rejected according to the landowners.
Donna Young of Rural Housing Scotland spoke about the community led housing work being
done in other areas of Scotland such as Orkney and how their success could be translated into
projects in Uist (more from Donna in this month’s editorial).
However, those present were concerned about the responsibility of such projects resting with
those who are already volunteers on many other community groups and committees and simply
would not have the time to devote to such an ambitious and important project.
During the consultation meetings in the Council Office in Balivanich representatives from local
groups voiced their concerns about the affordability of homes and questioned how a new housing
strategy would consider concerns outside of, but related to, housing such as local infrastructure
and job security.
No rentals and soaring valuations
Colin Shaw, of Benbecula-based Uist Property, told Am Pàipear that they have seen many people
being offered jobs and looking to move to Uist but have been unable to secure housing either
through the prices being too high or a lack of rental properties. Uist Property look after many
rental properties but have not had new tenants in over a year as new rental properties are not
becoming available.
Portree-based FMS Law estate agents told of their concerns regarding the Private Residential
Tenancies legislation which increases rights for tenants and puts an end to the Short Assured
Tenancy options that FMS claimed had been popular in Skye. These tenancies would allow those
who run short-term lets in the Summer to let out the property for up to six months over the Winter.
FMS claimed that these types of short tenancies allowed people to secure housing, however, Uist
Property said they would not entertain such temporary tenancies as they are not a solution to the
housing problems Uist faces.
Those in the property business have said that demand for properties has fallen but prices are still
far too high. Many valuations have been undertaken by surveyors from the mainland who are
working six months behind, according to Uist Property.
“The bubble has to burst at some point.” Said a spokesperson from FMS.
Katie Walker of HHP has encouraged anyone who has considered putting their name on the
waiting list to do so in order to more accurately reflect the demand for housing in Uist. The HHP
waiting list is currently not very long and this data has been used to determine future housing
need by the Comhairle.
The Housing Need and Demand Assessment undertaken by the Comhairle determined that
extrapolating the current figures would show that by 2030 no one would be left on the waiting list.
However, those at the community consultation meetings pointed out that these figures are a self-
fulfilling prophecy – no new homes built means no new families able to live in them and means further population decline.
The Uist Economic Task Force met in May for the first time in two years and discussed the topic
of housing at the meeting. Paul Steele is the current chair and told Lochboisdale Community
Council of the many projects and groups being organised through the Task Force.
Uist and Barra Housing Group has been in the process of organising meetings and has assured
Am Pàipear that actions and projects are in the pipeline to address these local housing issues.
