Covid-19 Tenant Grant Fund

Important

Please Note: 

• The Tenant Grant Fund closed on 31^st March 2022.

Overview

Glasgow City Council has received funding from the Scottish Government to provide grant assistance for tenants in the city at risk of becoming homeless after falling behind with rent payments during the pandemic.

The Covid-19 Tenant Grant Fund will help tenants who are at risk of losing their tenancy due to financial hardship as a direct result of the pandemic. The grant payment will allow tenants to reduce or pay off any rent arrears that have built up between 23 March 2020 and 9 August 2021.

The grants do not have to be repaid and are available to tenants in both social rented and private rented housing on the basis that any ongoing eviction action will cease.

Grant payment will be issued directly to landlords, and grant applicants are also encouraged to engage with tenant support organisations (details noted below) on an ongoing basis to further support tenancy sustainment.

Eligibility Criteria

Eligibility criteria for access to the grant is as follows:

• Tenants within the Private Rented Sector who have built up rent arrears, due to Covid-19, between 23 March 2020 and 9 August 2021.
• The landlord has agreed to cease any eviction proceedings related to the sums owed upon issue of the grant payment.
• Tenants must still reside at the property in which their rent arrears were accrued.
• Tenants must be notified that a grant application will be made on their behalf.

In addition to the eligibility criteria noted above, evidence checks will be carried out as part of any application.

Landlords will be asked to provide additional evidence including (but not limited to) rent statements demonstrating arrears, landlord registration, confirmation of bank details, etc.

How to Apply?

The Tenant Grant Fund is now closed.

Grant Conditions

The undernoted are conditions applicable to the grant funding:

1. The grant will be paid to the landlord in order to reduce or clear rent arrears. It must not be paid to any other party unless a third party is authorised by the landlord(s) to receive a payment on their behalf.
    
2. The grant should be paid into a UK bank account in the name of the landlord or their letting agent. (Payment to a letting agent must be requested in writing by the landlord.)
    
3. The tenant must reside in the property as their only residence.
    
4. The landlord and the tenant must take all reasonable steps to sustain the tenancy.
    
5. Where a notice to leave has been served by the landlord on the tenant on the grounds of rent arrears, the notice must be withdrawn within one week of payment of the grant. If no notice to leave has been served by the landlord on the tenant, the landlord must refrain from serving such a notice in respect of rent arrears which accrued rent arrears against which grant has been issued or which accrued between 23 March 2020 and 9 August 2021.
    
6. Where an application has been made to the first-tier tribunal for Scotland (Housing and Property Chamber) for an eviction order on grounds of rent arrears which accrued between 23 March 2020 and 9 August 2021, or for a payment order for those arrears, the landlord must withdraw the application/seek an adjournment of the application within one week of payment of the Grant. If no such application has been made by the landlord, the landlord must refrain from making such an application in respect of rent arrears against which grant has been issued or which accrued between 23 March 2020 and 9 August 2021.
    
7. Immediate repayment of the grant will be sought in the event that the landlord does not adhere to any of the conditions contained in points 1-6.

The Council is under an obligation to manage public funds properly, therefore, if you provide false or misleading information we will investigate it and take appropriate action.

Glasgow City Council has a duty to protect the public funds it administers and will use the information it holds for the prevention and detection of fraud. This includes the assessment and collection of any tax or charges.

To view our privacy statement please click here.

Additional Support

In addition to the COVID-19 Tenant Grant Fund, Glasgow City Council can offer alternative means of support options for individuals facing financial difficulty. 

Depending on your circumstances, tenant's may be eligible for Housing Benefit or Discretionary Housing Payment (DHP).

Please check the links below for more information:

• Housing Benefit
• Discretionary Housing Payment