Charity Shelter Scotland has announced the launch of a new online toolkit for tenants, designed to help them navigate through the rental system.

Shelter Scotland received funding for 'Toolkit for Tenants' from the SafeDeposit Scotland Trust (the only not-for-profit deposit scheme in Scotland), who awarded the housing charity a grant of £28,083 earlier this year after Shelter Scotland approached them with the proposal for the project. SafeDeposit Scotland was initially set up in 2016 and has since made a total amount of grants of £193,424 to improve the knowledge of Scotland’s private rented sector.

Containing a number of helpful guides for tenants on deposits, housing costs, repairs, inventories, and tenancy agreements, the online toolkit will also include training for tenants who wish to learn more about the private rented sector.

Alongside the announcement for 'Toolkit for Tenants', Shelter Scotland has also released a short online module titled Knowing Your Rights and Responsibilities – also funded by SafeDeposit Scotland. Both resources will be free of charge for those who wish to use them.

Jill Walker, Learning Manager at Shelter Scotland, has said that creating these resources came as a response to the recent changes to the law surrounding private renting in Scotland – most recently with the new private residential tenancy agreement introduced in December 2017, which ended fixed term tenancies and strengthened renters’ rights.

“It is important,” Ms Walker said, “therefore that people who rent privately in Scotland know their new rights and responsibilities and where to turn to for help”.

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