Glossary of Terms

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New Deal

A government initiative aimed at bringing young people and the longer term unemployed into work by subsidising employees' wages and training for a period of 6 months.

New Housing Partnerships

A government initiative aimed at encouraging local authorities to transfer their housing stock into community ownership through the provision of funding.

National Home Efficiency Rating (NHER)

A measure of energy efficiency in buildings.

Nomination

The process of selecting prospective tenants for vacant properties. It is often a requirement of grant that landlords accept nominations from their local authority for 50% of any vacant houses.

"Not for profit"

A term used to describe an organisation which does not distribute its profits or surpluses to its shareholders but retains them for re-investment in the business itself.

Notice of Proceedings for Recovery of Possession (NOP)

Formal notice by the landlord that eviction action is being started. The notice must be in writing and has a legally-prescribed content.

Partnering

RSLs and others working together with consultants, contractors and suppliers in a spirit of co-operation to improve efficiency and quality and to share expertise, all for the benefit of the "end user" i.e. tenant, homeowner, etc.

Performance Indicator

A measure of whether an organisation is achieving its objectives. Performance indicators can be compared with a pre-set standard (a benchmark) or with other organisations.

Performance Standards

Guidance developed by Communities Scotland, the SFHA and COSLA which sets the Standards for all social landlord and homelessness services in Scotland. Used as a framework for inspections by Communities Scotland, the standards are split into two sections:

Guidance standards - which should underpin everything an RSL does, and
Activity standards - which focus on specific service areas.

Person-centred

An approach to care and support provision (by LinkLiving) which focuses on service users having services designed for them individually rather then them having to adapt or accept systems already in place.

Planned Maintenance

Maintenance which is planned to take place at a certain time but which will not be required to be carried out regularly. Mainly one-off contracts e.g. window replacement.

Private Finance

Money borrowed over a period of time to fund development costs not covered by a capital grant from Communities Scotland. The borrowing is from the private sector, e.g. a bank or building society.

Procurement

The process of buying services or materials - ranging from office supplies to major building works - from other organisations eg suppliers, contractors, etc. In the housing movement, it refers mainly to the methods an RSL uses to develop projects (e.g. competitve tendering or design and build contracts) or to organise repairs.

Reactive Maintenance

Also called responsive maintenance or day-to-day maintenance. This is maintenance work carried out as the problem arises and is reported to the landlord. This type of repair cannot be foreseen e.g. fitting a new door after a break-in.

Rechargeable Repairs

Work that is the responsibility of the tenant but has been done (and initially paid for) by the landlord.

Registered Social Landlord (RSL)

An organisation which has the primary purpose of providing affordable rented housing and which is registered with Communities Scotland. Mostly called "Housing Associations".

Registration

In order to obtain grant from Communities Scotland, RSLs have to register with Communities Scotland. Both Industrial and Provident Societies and Companies can register with Communities Scotland providing they meet the criteria set out in the Housing (Scotland) Act 2001 and the additional Registration Criteria set by Communities Scotland.

Regulation and Inspection

This is the Department of Communities Scotland which deals directly with the registration and inspection of social landlords in Scotland.

Re-lets

Lets made to the second or subsequent tenant. Distinguished from new lets which are made when the property is first built or modernised.

Rent arrears

The amount of rent not paid to the landlord on time. Rent arrears can include:

Current tenants' arrears - money owed by existing tenants
Former tenants' arrears - money owed by people who are no longer tenants, for example those who have been evicted or who have abandoned or terminated their tenancy.

Rent Policy

The basis on which a landlord sets its rents. The rent policy should contain both the general principles behind the landlord's rents and the detailed way in which individual rents will be set.

Repair Grants

Repair grants towards approved expenditure may be available from councils for making good property deficiencies. The actual amounts available vary from time to time and the qualifying criteria of individuals or their properties can also vary. It is possible that the eligible costs for both owner occupiers and shopkeepers, can be increased, particularly if there are structural problems in the building.

Re-Provisioning

A process involving the replacement of one type of accommodation with another (more suitable) one, e.g., the transfer of supported accommodation from cluster flats to self-contained flats.

Reserves

Accumulated surpluses which have been retained by the landlord. Reserves are shown on the face of the balance sheet and they may be designated for specific purposes, e.g., major repairs.

Right to Buy

Right to Buy was introduced to Registered Social Landlords/Housing Associations by the Housing (Scotland) Act 1987. A secure tenant has the right to buy his/her property at a discounted price subject to length of tenancy with a public sector landlord. Limited only by the cost floor. Tenants who transfer to a new landlord through large-scale voluntary transfer have a preserved right to buy although they become assured tenants. Information for tenants is contained in the Scottish Executive publication 'Your Right to Buy Your Home', available from Housing Division 1, Scottish Executive, Victoria Quay, Edinburgh, EH6 6QQ (0131 244 2857 or 0131 244 2021), and information is available from other sources such as the local Citizens Advice Bureau.

Right to Repair

If a tenant has reported a repair to his or her landlord and after a reasonable period the repair has not been carried out, the tenant will then have the "Right to Repair" privately and have the bill issued to the landlord. This is a statutory right for council tenants only, but many other landlords have a similar voluntary scheme.

Risk Management

Risk is the likelihood of things going wrong and what could happen if they do. For example, an RSL's financial position or its reputation could be damaged by a previously untried activity.Risk management refers to the systems which a landlord has in place to assess and guard against risk from its development, management or funding activities, e.g., insurance policies.

Rules

Each RSL has a set of written rules which sets out its objectives and powers. If an association does anything which is not covered by the written rules, it may be acting illegally.

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Page last updated on Tuesday, 25 November 2008