Coronavirus - Housing Services

If you are homeless, or need somewhere to stay urgently, please call 0800 028 6231. Someone will be available 24/7 to take your call and we will discuss your housing options. Our homelessness service is experiencing considerable pressure and we are working hard to make sure everybody has somewhere safe to stay. Our phone lines are open but it may take longer for us to answer you than normal.

We are currently only able to carry out a small list of the most extreme emergency housing repairs. This is due to a significantly reduced workforce. The repairs we can take are:

• Securing doors and windows
• Lost keys/access to house issues
• Broken/damaged external doors
• Broken/damaged windows
• Uncontrollable water leaks, at pipes or boiler
• Choked drains
• No heating and hot water
• Carbon monoxide detector going off
• Noisy boiler
• Loss of power to your home
• Smell of burning or smoke from electrics
• Exposed live electrics

If you believe the repair is a danger to health or safety, you should report the problem as soon as possible. Please use the Request an emergency housing repair online form.

Please be aware, gas servicing is still going ahead but is experiencing a disruption.

If you are self-isolating, can you please let us know before one of our employees attends an appointment at your home.

If you don't let us know in advance that you or someone else is self-isolating, your appointment might not go ahead. If you tell us, we can make any necessary arrangements before the visit.

If you have an appointment for gas servicing and the engineer does not arrive as expected, please do not contact us. We will send a new appointment to you as soon as we can.

We're currently unable to process new housing applications or changes to existing applications within normal timescales.

We are suspending normal housing allocations as Scottish Government guidance has confirmed that no-one should move home at this time. We will continue to respond to Anti-social behaviour issues. If you are self-isolating, can you please let us know as soon as possible. The reason is one of our employees will need to attend an appointment with you.

It’s important, for those who find themselves in a position to pay their rent, to keep doing so. We need this money to provide vital housing services - all normal methods of payment will stay in place at present and Direct Debits will be taken as normal.

• With immediate effect, we will not be taking any recovery action against households who fail to pay their rent as a result of sudden financial hardship in relation to the current Covid-19 crisis.
• No reminder letters will be issued if tenants are unable to pay their rent for the foreseeable future and all recovery methods will remain suspended meantime.
• We have suspended any eviction actions for rent arrears for at least the next 6 months.
• If you’re unable to meet your rent payments as the result of the Covid-19 crisis or need advice about a new or existing Universal Credit claim contact the council using the Universal Credit - Enquiry Form or phone 03451 55 00 44 and you will be redirected to a Housing Management Officer.

• We have also instructed our Revenues Officers to suspend all new and ongoing recovery action against households with existing rent arrears, however we are still contacting households we identify as having missed a payment to offer support and advice.

Reminder for anyone who receives Universal Credit and rents their home

It’s likely that your rent will have gone up from 1 April. To make sure you’re getting the money you’re entitled to it’s important for you to let the Department for Work and Pensions - DWP know about this increase. You can do this by logging into your Universal Credit account online at www.universal-credit.service.gov.uk/sign-in Alternatively, if you can’t access your account online, please call your local job centre on:

Cupar 01334 413702
Cowdenbeath 01383 315433
Dunfermline 01383 813814
Glenrothes 01592 664879
Kirkcaldy 01592 253236
Leven 01333 593521
St Andrews 01334 413702

We’ll be reviewing the situation regularly. For more help with benefits and money advice visit http://www.fife.gov.uk/coronavirus-moneyadvice

The Scottish Government has put temporary protection in place for private rented tenants to amend the mandatory grounds for rent arrears from three to six months. Private landlords are also able to benefit from the mortgage payment holiday scheme that’s been put in place. More information is available at https://www.gov.scot/publications/coronavirus-covid-19-landlord-and-letting-agent-faqs/

We are currently unable to accept payment for HMO applications by cheque at this time. However, we can accept payments via BACS or by card over the phone.

The HMO Licensing Team are happy to take your payment or provide you with BACS details. Please call us on 01592 583162.