The Private Rented Housing Panel (PRHP) has been set up to provide tenants with a way of forcing landlords to comply with Repairing Standard. Previously, tenants had to take court action. The Private Rented Housing Panel has been established as a quicker and easier way to enforce landlords’ obligations.
If you consider that your landlord has failed to meet the Repairing Standard you should apply to:
The Private Rented Housing Panel
3rd Floor,
140 West Campbell Street
Glasgow G2 4TZ
Phone: 0141 572 1170
www.prhpscotland.gov.uk
You will have to demonstrate that you have notified the landlord of the work that is needed and when you did so (for example, by providing a copy of the letter you wrote and evidence of posting).
The President of the Private Rented Housing Panel will initially decide to do one of three things:
Reject the application Refer the application to the Private Rented Housing Panel Committee for consideration and decision Delay the application, if it is felt that the landlord has not had enough time to complete the repair or if both parties agree to mediation
Mediation
You should consider whether you would like your case be dealt using mediation. This is less formal than using a Private Rented Housing Panel Committee. It involves you and the landlord explaining your points of view so that the independent mediator can work with you to reach a solution that you all agree with. If agreement cannot be reached through mediation, your case will be dealt with by the Committee. If you would like to try mediation, you should tick the “mediation” box on the Private Rented Housing Panel application form.
Private Rented Housing Panel Committee
If either you or your landlord refuses to have mediation, or if you are not able to resolve the problem with the help of a mediator, your claim will be passed on to the Private Rented Housing Panel Committee for consideration. The Committee will decide one of three things
your landlord has failed to comply with their duty to meet the Repairing Standard your landlord has not failed to comply with their duty to meet the Repairing Standard your landlord is unable to comply with their duty to meet the Repairing Standard, for example, you did not permit entry to the property.
If the Committee decides that the landlord has failed to comply with their duty it will issue an enforcement notice, which sets out the work required, and when it must be completed (this will be at least 21 days). Should the landlord fail to meet this notice, the local authority may undertake the work (and charge the landlord).
The Committee may also decide to reduce your rent during some of the enforcement order period. You have the right to appeal if:
the Committee decides not to grant a rent relief order the Committee decides to revoke the rent relief order
Further information
Information on the Private Rented Housing Panel and mediation is available from the Scottish Government’s website.