Private rented housing ‘vital’ to Glasgow’s economy claims landlord

A major Glasgow landlord has said that ensuring a supply of high-quality private rented housing is vital to support the city’s economy.

Elaine Angelidis, who manages properties across Glasgow and the west of Scotland, said that stricter regulations and a clearer model rental agreement, which promotes greater understanding between tenants and landlords, will deliver the kind of flexible rented accommodation needed to support the city’s economy.

Ms Angelidis said that it was also important the role of the private rented sector (PRS) was better understood and its contribution acknowledged.

‘I have been a landlord for around 15 years, am proud to be a member of the Scottish Association of Landlords (SAL) and to have undertaken the latest training from Landlord Accreditation Scotland (LAS).  Involvement with both bodies ensures I have access to the information and support necessary to fulfil my obligations as a landlord,’ said Ms Angelidis.

‘Our tenants are all ages, come from all backgrounds and are renting for a variety of different reasons.

‘Some rent because they enjoy the flexibility it provides and which could allow them to progress their career more quickly, whilst others simply want high quality accommodation without the financial responsibility which arises from home ownership.

‘It is clear that being able to provide this kind of high quality accommodation in Glasgow is very important to the local economy, both directly through maintenance we undertaken in our properties and indirectly by providing flexible accommodation in the city.’

Her comments come as new research by Direct Line found two thirds of renters said they have no intention of purchasing a property.

A quarter of the people surveyed for the research said they simply do not want the financial commitment that comes with owning a home, while 17% said they preferred the flexibility which renting provides.

The Scottish Association of Landlords (SAL) believes the PRS is vital in other ways and has asked the Scottish Government to carry out a thorough analysis of the economic impact of the sector.

As well as the economic benefits of direct employment in the sector, SAL says the PRS also supports thousands of jobs through the supply chain of trades responsible for carrying out safety checks, maintenance or upgrade of properties, to ensure the high standards placed on those properties in the PRS are maintained.

‘We are seeing more and more evidence that the PRS is vital in supporting local economies, through direct employment, supply chain jobs and because major cities, such as Glasgow, need a broad mix of accommodation if it is to grow and prosper in the future,’ said SAL chief executive, John Blackwood.

‘It is vital that private landlords are held to the highest standards and that those are effectively enforced by the authorities.  In addition, we would like to see further study undertaken to quantify the economic contribution which the PRS delivers.’