A couple have spoken of their shock and distress after being ordered by a national charity to quit their home in Dunkeld for reasons they say remain unclear.
Community councillor Chris Claydon (52) says a decision by the National Trust for Scotland (NTS) to serve notice on her and her partner Scott Trotter (59) to vacate the property she has lived in for the last 18 years has left them “devastated”.
The couple, who run their own online antique business from the home at Castle Cleirach in The Cross, say the charity’s sudden decision to end their short assured tenancy is hard to understand as they claim it has yet to provide a reasonable explanation why they have to move out.
Chris spoke of her anguish over receiving the notice at the most recent virtual meeting of Dunkeld and Birnam Community Council (DBCC) where she asked the group as a resident to write to the Trust to question why it has taken such drastic action in the couple’s case.
She told attendees a group acting for the Trust recently undertook an inspection of their home and when she drew attention to a few cracks which have appeared over a couple of doorframes they assured her they were no problem and could be monitored.
However she said a structural engineer then carried out a brief visual inspection of the property on behalf of the NTS a few months later and shortly after that they were suddenly served a notice to quit and told the house required “further investigations”.
“I think what is particularly upsetting is we’ve spoken to them and they won’t share the structural report with us so we don’t know where we stand,” she said.
“They haven’t told us to evacuate so it’s not about to fall down around us and it certainly doesn’t look like it will.
“To go from ‘don’t worry about those cracks’ to ‘you need to leave’ is pretty shocking.”
Chris went on to say what was galling was she knew other tenants have been offered temporary accommodation by the NTS when repairs were required at their homes and they were allowed to move back in once they were finished but this was never offered to her and Scott as an option.
“What we’re really upset about is the fact they are not willing to consider any alternatives - that they’re willing to make people homeless in this current cost of living crisis,” she said.
Strathtay councillor Claire McLaren described Chris and Scott’s story as “very distressing”.
“I’m a bit floored by your story,” she remarked. “I didn’t think this brutal behaviour still existed. This approach is a wee bit dated.”
Her ward colleague, councillor Grant Laing, agreed the NTS’s actions in the couple’s case was concerning.
“I think we should be questioning the reason why they are taking this action,” he said.
DBCC chair Lachlan MacEwan said he too was taken aback by Chris and Scott’s story and he was concerned the same thing could now happen to other people living in properties rented from the NTS.
“The concern is if it does happen to one person, will it happen to others?” he said.
Speaking to the PA after the meeting Chris said she had also asked her local MSP, deputy first minister John Swinney, if he could do anything to help her and Scott.
Mr Swinney confirmed this week: “I am aware of my constituents’ situation and, on their behalf, I have been in contact with the NTS.
“I have encouraged the NTS to work to find a satisfactory resolution to this matter and it is my hope that they will engage substantively with my constituents.
"I will continue to be available to assist my constituents regarding this issue and will closely monitor any developments going forward.”
A NTS spokesperson has since told the PA it served notice to quit on Chris and Scott because the property requires “essential structural works”.
The spokesperson said: “It is unfortunate that we have had to seek vacant possession of this property.
“However, there are essential structural works which have to be carried out to the property.
“At this time, we do not have any suitable alternative accommodation which we can offer to our tenants.
“We do hope that our tenants are able to secure accommodation soon and have extended their period of notice to allow them more time to find something suitable.”
