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Scotland

Housing law advice casework

Learn how to identify issues affecting housing rights in Scotland. Find out how to support tenants, borrowers, occupiers, and people whose rights are being denied or are at risk.

Housing law advice caseworkBook this elearning course

Course date and duration

You can start this elearning course from 27 October 2025. It has 32 on-demand online lessons. These last a total of 44 hours. You must complete the course within 8 months.

Who this course is for

This course is suitable if you want to build your knowledge of housing law and housing issues, and provide direct support to people facing these issues.

Course details

The course covers the following topics:

Housing issues 

  • current housing legislation

  • housing options

  • common housing problems across different tenure types

  • how to act on someone's behalf

Security of tenure

  • different tenure types

  • the essential elements of a lease

  • eviction and repossession processes

Homelessness

  • key aspects and possible causes of homelessness

  • local authority responsibilities to people applying for housing

  • how to analyse housing options and identify strategies for people facing homelessness

Disrepair

  • different types of disrepair

  • landlord disrepair obligations

  • what a local authority can do about disrepair

Finance

  • rights, responsibilities, and options for people facing arrears and repossession

  • the causes and effects of debt

  • strategies to avoid eviction and repossession

  • housing benefit and council tax reduction and their eligibility criteria

What you will learn

By the end of this course, you will be able to:

  • provide detailed advice and support to people with housing problems

  • apply detailed knowledge of the law relating to key housing issues

  • demonstrate understanding of causes and effects of housing issues

How your coursework is assessed

You will complete a series of self-assessments and a written assessment for each unit, to demonstrate housing knowledge and competence. Each written assessment is marked by an assessor.

You must pass all assessments to complete the course.

What qualification you can achieve

When you pass this course, you will receive an SQA Professional Development Group award level 7.

Our training for groups

Our training courses are also available for groups of 6 or more.

We can deliver training to your group at a time and date of your choice.

Please contact us at trainingscotland@shelter.org.uk or call 0344 515 2477 to discuss your training needs.