Jargon Buster
This page will help you understand the wording we use in our housing forms and policies.
Allocation of housing: deciding who is in most need of housing, and how to make best use of the housing we have available.
Antisocial behaviour order (ASBO): an order which we and the police can use to stop a person from acting in an antisocial way.
Assignation: where a tenant passes on their tenancy and rights to another person.
Below tolerable standard: see Tolerable Standard.
Capital works: large-scale repairs on our housing stock, for example replacing windows or roof works. These are for the structure and exterior of properties.
Diligence: methods of enforcing unpaid debts under decrees of the Scottish Court.
Housing benefit: help given to people on low incomes to pay their rent.
Housing revenue account: sets out the major elements of housing revenue expenditure and capital financing, and how these are met by rents and other income.
National home energy rating (NHER): gives an energy efficiency rating to a house based on things like wall construction, heating system and double glazing.
Notice of proceedings for recovery of possession (NOP): notice required by law, to be given to tenant by the landlord, to warn that legal action may be taken.
Overcrowding: The Housing (Scotland) Act 1987 outlines how many rooms and how much space a home should have, for the number of people living there.
Qualifying occupier: a person who occupies a house as their own home, is a member of the tenant’s family aged at least years, an assignee of the tenancy or a sub-letter (assuming the relevant permission has been sought). Read more about qualifying persons.
Registered social landlord: a non-profit landlord, usually housing associations, which are registered with and monitored by the Scottish Housing Regulator.
Scottish housing quality standard: a national standard, based on SHQS measures for all socially rented houses. Under these standards, houses must be energy efficient, be healthy, safe and secure, and be free from serious disrepair.
Tenant participation: tenants taking part in, and influencing, decision making about housing policies, conditions and related services.
Tolerable standard: a set of standards which makes sure the property is structurally stable, has a toilet for the exclusive use of the occupants, has a sink provided with supply of hot and cold water within the house, and more.
Void: a property which does not have a current occupant. The void period is the time - in calendar days - between the end of the previous tenancy and the start of the new one.