A UNIQUE advice and mediation project in the Wee County is helping to prevent homelessness while sustaining tenancies in the private rented sector.

The project, which even attracted the attention of Scotland’s housing minister, is being run by Clackmannanshire Citizens Advice Bureau (Clacks CAB) and has seen a wide range of work with private landlords and tenants over the past year.

Recently receiving a second year of funding from Safe Deposits Scotland Charitable Trust, the initiative has seen a long missing and crucial forum re-established for private landlords.

Often ostracised, private landlords in the area have been more than keen to get up to speed with the latest legislation at the forum’s quarterly meetings, thanks to the CAB’s Pauline Thomson playing a key part.

Pauline, the CAB’s private rented housing adviser, has wide-ranging experience in the sector and has both been a private landlord and tenant in the past.

She told the Advertiser: “I suppose I act as a conduit to facilitate forums, workshops and to really just empower landlords and tenants, highlighting what their rights and responsibilities are.

“The private sector here in Clackmannanshire is absolutely crucial and fundamental in the prevention of homelessness and also in tenancy sustainability.”

Some 10 per cent of Wee County dwellings are for private rent and the area previously had a lively forum for landlords before it fell by the wayside.

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With Clackmannanshire Private Landlords Forum up and running once again, those in the sector have been able to share experiences while learning to make sure they are compliant and aware of responsibilities and rights on both sides of the equation.

Pauline continued: “It’s important for landlords to get recognition because there are a lot of good landlords out there.

“The fundamental thing is communication. If we are not talking to each other then things can go wrong.”

Housing minister Paul McLennan has twice visited the project over the past year to see the work first-hand.

He said: “A fairer, well managed private rented sector is in the interest of both tenants and responsible landlords.

“Private landlords play a vital role in providing the homes people in Scotland need, and we are keen to work closely with them.

“Clackmannanshire Citizens Advice Bureau have played a key role in engaging with private landlords through their private rented landlord forum.

“It has been great to visit the project twice over the past year, and I look forward to continued engagement with this great initiative.”

And it is not just talk and theory as Pauline and the CAB have been able to make a real difference on the ground.

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One of those benefiting was Clacks tenant Anastasia Lemaitre, who was getting nowhere in chasing a landlord over a range of issues, including damp, in her rented flat.

She told the Advertiser: “I wasn’t getting anywhere with the landlord and it got to the point that my mental health was really bad.

“It’s very difficult to just move out of one place into another – I was at risk of homelessness.”

After trying for months to resolve the issues, Anastasia contacted Clacks CAB where Pauline was able to initiate a dialogue between her, the landlord and agents.

As a result, the flat above hers was fixed up so she could move in there instead, allowing repairs to her original rented property.

Anastasia said: “Pauline is one of the nicest, most down to earth, helpful people I’ve ever come across.”

Looking ahead, Clacks CAB is hoping to establish a forum for private tenants while working closely with the local authority and other organisations such as Clackmannanshire Tenants and Residents Federation.

Being a landlord can be “quite a lonely business”, one told the Advertiser anonymously.

They added: “It’s nice to have a forum where you can meet other landlords and be updated on legislation which is changing quite regularly.”

The project also links in with other ongoing streams of work at the CAB, such as welfare and energy advice, with Pauline keen to highlight the bureau’s door is open to residents for advice in numerous areas.

Looking ahead, Pauline is hoping to hear from private tenants in the Wee County as she looks to establish a forum for them.

She is hoping to hear what tenants believe would benefit them; people can email pauline.thomson@clackscab.casonline.org.uk for more.