Please read and understand your Tenancy Agreement; this is important as it will help you understand your responsibilities and help foster good community and neighbour relations.
The sections below highlight areas of specific responsibility. If you are unsure about any of these matters, please speak with your property manager.
In general, tenants are responsible for meeting the costs of the following:
- Pest and vermin control, although Veterans Housing Scotland must repair, where possible, the building to prevent pest infestation. We will not be responsible for the costs associated with the tenant encouraging vermin and pests to the property.
- Damage caused through neglect or misuse of the property by the tenant, their family, or visitors.
- Upkeep of any common areas where the landlord does not meet these costs.
- Replacing light bulbs.
- Replacing lost keys and meeting the cost of re-entry if the tenant is locked out.
Tenants' fittings remain the tenant's responsibility unless we formally agree to adopt it, and ownership of any such fittings reverts to Veterans Housing Scotland when the tenancy ends.
Garden Maintenance
Veterans Housing Scotland is responsible for maintaining communal garden areas
You are responsible for the maintenance of the property's garden and you must keep all your designated garden areas well-maintained and tidy. This includes any trees, grass, shrubs, or weeds. When possible, please take your turn in cleaning common areas and maintaining shared garden areas where appropriate.
Refuse and waste disposal
You must dispose of your household refuse in a considerate and proper manner, bagged if placed in a communal bin and placed in the allocated areas. Do not put hot ash in containers; please clean your bins regularly to prevent them from smelling and do not overfill the bin or leave rubbish outside your property. Where refuse is uplifted from the street, bins should be put out on time, and the bins returned to the bin store as soon as possible after collection. Recycling facilities should be used wherever possible. The property manager can advise on appropriate recycling practices.
If you have more oversized items of refuse, you must make appropriate arrangements to have these collected.
Car parking
You and your neighbours should show due consideration when parking vehicles in shared parking spaces. Unless you have space allocated explicitly to you, parking is on a first-come, first-served basis. All vehicles parked must be roadworthy, insured, and taxed.
The parking of caravans, boats and trailers is not permitted on any of our properties unless permission has been previously sought from the property manager.
Respecting your neighbours
Veterans Housing Scotland will not get involved in neighbour disputes unless there are instances of proven antisocial behaviour, in the first instance such matters should be reported to the relevant Local Authority. Advice can be sought from your Visiting Officer.
Antisocial behaviour will not be tolerated and may lead to action being taken against offenders. The examples listed below are not exhaustive:
- Persistent excessive noise, and noise which occurs outside of reasonable hours.
- Verbal or physical abuse to your neighbours, our staff, support volunteers and contractors.
- Failure to control pets, including allowing them to foul or cause damage to another person's property or common areas.
- Allowing your home's condition or any fixtures or fittings we have provided to fall below our standards and no longer meet the tenancy requirements.
- Using your property or allowing it to be used for illegal activity or immoral purposes includes using or selling unlawful drugs or selling alcohol.
- Vandalising or damaging our property, the neighbourhood or damaging neighbours' property.
- Leaving rubbish in unauthorised places.
- Committing or inciting harassment, including discrimination or violence against any person in the property or neighbourhood.
- Using, carrying or storing offensive weapons or firearms.
- Parking un-roadworthy or un-taxed vehicles in the garden or driveway of the property or neighbourhood.
If you are affected by alleged antisocial behaviour, you should keep a written record of the incidents, with dates and times.
If you suspect a matter to be criminal you should report this to Police Scotland, and again inform your Visiting Officer.
Should Veterans Housing Scotland receive complaints about the behaviour of any tenant or their families, the following process, as appropriate, will be carried out:
- Write to tenants to explain that their actions are causing concern and ask them to modify and improve their behaviour.
- If appropriate, seek advice from Police Scotland, the local authority and the Scottish Association of Landlords.
- Advise the tenant on noise reduction measures.
- If required, apply for an anti-social behaviour order.
- Apply to the First-Tier Tribunal for eviction and issue a notice to quit to the offending tenant.
Leaving your home empty
It will be assumed that you have abandoned the property if you leave it unattended for more than 28 days without discussing and agreeing with the property manager. In this case, we will terminate the lease and apply to the First-Tier Tribunal for an order to repossess the property.
If you leave your property for any length of time, you will be responsible for making sure that it is locked and secure. Any area forming part of your property must be kept in reasonable condition whilst you are away.
Condensation
Condensation in a property may lead to dampness, so various steps to manage the circulation of air throughout your home and reduce any unnecessary problems need to be followed:
- Where possible, keep window vents open.
- Open windows after bathing or cooking and use extractor fans if fitted.
- Ensure a tumble dryer is vented to the outside of the property.
- Heat the property efficiently.
- Ensure cupboards or wardrobes are not overfilled so that air can circulate.
- Open windows at some point during the day if using a clothes airer.
Should there be any sign of dampness at any time, then you should contact the property manager as quickly as possible so that they can arrange an investigation of the matter by professionals
Please note that you may be charged for any remedial work if it is discovered that dampness within the property is due to your lifestyle rather than any underlying building problem,
Frost damage
It is your responsibility to reduce the impact of frost damage and burst pipes in your property. You can do this by following these simple steps:
- Setting your thermostat on your heating to at least 10 degrees centigrade.
- Keeping internal doors open to help with air circulation.
If you have burst or frozen pipes, please turn off the water at the stopcock and the electricity at the main switch if water comes into contact with the wiring, lights, or appliances. You should also turn off the water heater, if fitted, and turn on all the taps to drain down the system. Please contact your Property Manager or your "out of hours emergency number" and let any neighbours know who might also be affected.
Pets in the Property
We understand the significant contribution pets can have to our tenants' wellbeing. You will need to seek your property manager's permission if you have or intend to have a pet in your home.
Please note that permission will not be granted to keep reptiles, mice, rats, or insects in the property.
Pets must always be kept under proper control. If neighbours raise complaints or concerns about pets' behaviour, we may cancel our permission to have a pet in the property. No more than two medium-sized dogs can be kept in a property at any one time.
