Guide

Having a financial assessment

If you receive a chargeable service, we'll assess you to see how much you can afford to pay towards the cost of those services. This is called a financial assessment.

You do not need to apply for a financial assessment. We'll do a financial assessment for you when you get chargeable social care services.

During a financial assessment, we use Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) systems and our own systems to support this process. We'll only get in touch with you if we need more information.

Your financial assessment considers your income and essential expenses, including any other costs you may have due to a disability. If you have disability-related expenditure (DRE), this can be considered to reduce your charge.

Examples of disability-related expenditure include:

• equipment - mobility aids, communication devices, or home adaptations
• healthcare costs - physiotherapy, acupuncture, chiropody, podiatry, or specialist treatments
• daily living costs - additional laundry expenses, incontinence products, special dietary needs, or additional clothing or bedding
• transport - use of taxis if public transport is inaccessible or mileage costs
• household costs - higher than average heating bills due to a medical condition
• services - personal alarm subscriptions, online shopping delivery, assistance with cleaning or gardening
• activities - if the activity recommended for health reasons such as rehabilitation or to prevent social isolation.

Examples of expenditure that are not classed as disability-related expenditure include:

• housing costs (rent or mortgage)
• general food costs
• council tax
• entertainment services such as Sky or Netflix
• home insurance.

When assessing your ability to contribute to the cost of eligible care and support, we’ll consider the following income and savings, based on a weekly amount:

• net earnings (your earnings after any tax has been taken off)
• benefits and tax credits
• pension income
• other income.

Read our policy on charging for non-residential social care for adults to find more information about how we work out how much you should pay.

You can also read an easy-read version of the charging policy.

Tell us about your disability-related expenditure

You should tell us about any disability-related expenditure so we can consider it during your financial assessment.

Before telling us, make sure you have:

• details of your expenditure
• proof of the amount you pay, such as receipts, invoices, or the last 3 months bank statements.

Here's an example of what a completed DRE form looks like so you know what to expect.

You can tell us about your disability-related expenditure online, by email, or by post.

Tell us online

Tell us about your disability-related expenditure online

Tell us by email or post

Fill in the form and send it to us, along with proof of the amount you pay, by email or post:

After a financial assessment

After a financial assessment, we'll send you:

• details about how much you'll need to pay each week
• a full explanation of the calculation
• information about how to pay the contribution.

List of chargeable adult social care services

If you need help or advice

You can contact us if you want to talk about your charges or have any questions:

We provide community-based social care services for adults. We do this by working with the Renfrewshire Health and Social Care Partnership.

If you’re assessed as eligible for care, you may have to pay something towards that care.

The amount you pay, if anything, depends on your income and how much you have in savings, if you have any. We also consider any costs that you may have for disability-related expenditure.

Who can vote in a UK Parliamentary election

To vote in a UK Parliamentary election, you must:

• be registered to vote
• be aged 18 or older on the day of the election (‘polling day’).
• be a British, Irish or qualifying Commonwealth citizen
• be registered at an address in the UK or living abroad and registered as an overseas voter
• not be legally excluded from voting – prisoners serving a sentence for a conviction cannot vote.  

Voter ID  

You’ll need to bring photo identification to a polling station to cast your vote in a UK Parliamentary election.  

Find out more about voter ID and acceptable photo identification.

You do not need to provide photographic identification when voting at a polling station in Scottish Parliamentary or local government (council) elections.   

How MPs are elected

MPs are elected using the first past the post system.  

This means you vote for one candidate in your local area – your constituency.  

The candidate with the most votes is elected as your MP.

When the next UK Parliamentary election will take place

The next UK Parliamentary election must be called by August 2029, but the prime minister can choose to hold it at any point before this. 

Previous UK Parliamentary election results

The most recent UK Parliamentary election took place on Thursday 4 July 2024.

See the results of the UK Parliamentary election 2024.

See more previous election results. 

UK Parliamentary elections, also known as general elections, must be held within approximately 5 years of the previous general election.

When you vote in a UK Parliamentary election, you’re voting for a Member of Parliament (MP) for the UK House of Commons.  

There are 650 MPs elected across the UK – Scotland has 57 of these.

Renfrewshire is represented by 2 MPs, covering 2 constituencies:

• Paisley and Renfrewshire North  
• Paisley and Renfrewshire South.

Find which constituency you live in (Boundaries Scotland).

MPs represent you in the UK Parliament.

They consider and propose new laws on issues that the UK Parliament controls. 

Who can vote in a Scottish Parliamentary election

To vote in a Scottish Parliamentary election, you must:

• be registered to vote
• be aged 16 or older on the day of the election (‘polling day’)
• be registered at an address in the area you want to vote in

You must also you must be one of the following:

• a British citizen
• an Irish citizen
• a foreign national of another country who is permitted to enter or stay in the UK. 

How MSPs are elected

In Scotland, MSPs are elected using the additional member system (ASM).  

ASM is a form of proportional representation. This is an electoral system where parties gain seats in proportion to the number of votes cast for each party.

This means you have 2 votes:

• one for a constituency MSP
• one for a regional MSP

Constituency MSPs

You can vote for an MSP to represent your local area – called a constituency.

There are 3 Scottish Parliamentary constituencies within Renfrewshire:

• Paisley
• Renfrewshire North and Cardonald
• Renfrewshire West and Levern Valley.

Find your constituency (Boundaries Scotland).

Regional MSPs

You can vote for a Scottish party or independent candidate to represent your region.

Renfrewshire is part of the West of Scotland region.

When the next Scottish Parliamentary election will take place

The next Scottish Parliamentary election will take place on Thursday 7 May 2026.

Find out more about the Scottish Parliamentary election 2026.  

Previous Scottish Parliamentary election results

The most recent Scottish Parliamentary election took place on 6 May 2021.  

See the results of the Scottish Parliamentary election 2021.

See more previous election results. 

Scottish Parliamentary elections take place at least every 5 years.

When you vote in a Scottish Parliamentary election, you’re voting for Members of the Scottish Parliament (MSP).

There are 129 elected MSPs in total.

Scotland is divided into 8 electoral regions for a Scottish Parliamentary election. A region is a larger area which covers several constituencies.

You are represented by 8 MSPs:

• 1 MSP who represents your local area – known as a constituency MSP  
• 7 MSPs who represent the larger area that includes your constituency – known as regional MSPs.

MSPs consider and propose new laws on issues that the Scottish Parliament controls.  

Find out more about Scotland's powers (Scottish Parliament).

Who can vote in a local government election

To vote in a local government election, you must:

• be registered to vote
• be aged 16 or older on the day of the election (‘polling day’)
• be registered at an address in the area you want to vote in.

You must also you must be one of the following:

• a British citizen
• an Irish citizen
• a foreign national of another country who is permitted to enter or stay in the UK. 

How councillors are elected

In Scotland, councillors are elected using the single transferable vote (STV) system.  

This is where you rank the candidates in order of preference.

On your ballot paper, you’ll be asked to number the candidates in the order of your preference. You do this by putting 1, 2, 3 and so on in the box next to each one.

You can do this for all the people you want to vote for. You do not have to put a number beside every candidate if you do not want to.

Councillors are then elected through a mathematical process based on how they are ranked by voters.

Find out more about the process and how the votes are counted (Electoral Commission). 

When the next local government election will take place

The next local government election is expected to take place in May 2027. 

Previous local government election results

Polling for the most recent local government election 2022 took place on Thursday 5 May 2022.

See the results of the local government elections 2022.

See more previous election results. 

Local government elections take place at least every 5 years.

This is when you vote to elect councillors in Renfrewshire who will represent your views for the wards, or geographic area, where you live.

There could also be an election known as a by-election in a specific area if a councillor steps down or needs to be replaced.

There are:

• 12 electoral wards in Renfrewshire
• 43 elected councillors.

Each electoral ward has either 3 or 4 councillors.

Find which ward you live in (Boundaries Scotland).

You can search for your local councillor by postcode, party or ward on the Renfrewshire Committees and Councillors website. 

Acceptable forms of voter ID

The name on your photographic identification should be the same name that you used to register to vote.

Acceptable photo identification includes:  

• passport
• driving licence, including provisional licences  
• Scottish National Entitlement card - issued for the purpose of concessionary travel  
• Blue Badge  
• Older Person’s Bus Pass
• Disabled Person’s Bus Pass
• identity card with Proof of Age Standards Scheme (PASS) hologram, for example a Young Scot card  
• biometric immigration document
• defence identity card.

You only need to show one form of identification, but it needs to be the original and not a photocopy or digital version.

Your photographic identification does not need to have a gender marker.  

Your identification can be expired, as long as you still look like the photo. 

If you do not have photographic identification

If you do not have an acceptable form of photographic identification, you can apply for a free voter authority certificate.

This is a paper document with your photo on it that you can use to prove your identity when voting in an election.

Before you apply for a voter authority certificate

You need to be registered to vote before you apply for a voter authority certificate. 

You can apply for a free voter authority certificate during the registration process.

When you apply for a voter authority certificate, you’ll need to provide:

• your name
• address
• date of birth
• a digital photo of yourself
• National Insurance number.

If do not know your National Insurance number, you can still apply, but the elections team or Electoral Registration Office will contact you to ask for a different proof of your identity. 

How to apply for a voter authority certificate

Online

Apply for a free voter authority certificate online (GOV.UK)

By post

You can also apply for a voter authority certificate by post.

Download and fill in the paper form (GOV.UK).

Then post the form to your electoral registration office at:

Electoral Registration Officer  
Renfrewshire Valuation Joint Board  
Renfrewshire House  
Cotton Street  
Paisley  
PA1 1BF

You can get a paper application form from the Electoral Registration Office.

Voting by post

If you vote by post, you do not need to provide voter ID.

Find out more about voting by post. 

Voting by proxy

If your proxy votes on your behalf at the polling station, they’ll be asked to show their photographic identification.

They will not be asked to show any ID for you.

Find out more about voting by proxy.

More information

Find out more about voter ID (GOV.UK). 

You’ll need to show photographic identification at a polling station to cast your vote in a UK Parliamentary election.

You do not need to provide photographic identification when voting at a polling station in Scottish Parliamentary or local government (council) elections. 

Results of Scottish Parliamentary election 2026

The counting of votes took place at Braehead Arena on Friday 8 May 2026.

Paisley Constituency

Electorate - 61,393
Total votes cast - 31,013
Total votes cast for West Scotland Region - 30,976
Turnout - 50.5%

George Adam, Scottish National Party (SNP) has been elected as MSP for the Paisley Constituency.

Renfrewshire North and Cardonald Constituency

Electorate - 65,390
Total votes cast - 35,150
Total votes cast for West Scotland Region - 35,142
Turnout - 53.8%

Michelle Simone Campbell, Scottish National Party (SNP) has been elected as MSP for the Renfrewshire North and Cardonald Constituency.

Renfrewshire West and Levern Valley Constituency

Electorate - 63,548
Total votes cast - 34,393
Total votes cast for West Scotland Region - 34,397
Turnout - 54.1%

Tom Arthur, Scottish National Party (SNP) has been elected as MSP for the Renfrewshire West and Levern Valley Constituency.

West Scotland Region

Total votes cast in the West Scotland Region ballot

West Scotland Region ballot - Paisley

West Scotland Region ballot - Renfrewshire North and Cardonald

West Scotland Region ballot - Renfrewshire West and Levern Valley

Full regional results for West Scotland Region

See the results for each constituency in the West Scotland Region.

More information

Council services

The best way to contact us about one of our services is by visiting the service’s page on our website.

Many services have their own online forms, phone numbers, and email addresses. Contacting us by using the contact details on a service’s website page – rather than by contacting our customer service team – is usually the quickest way to get information and support.

Find a service’s website page by using the website’s search bar or looking for it in one of these service categories:

• bins and recycling
• council tax
• benefits and money
• registrations
• housing
• adult care and health
• education, schools and adult learning
• children, young people and families
• community and neighbourhood
• planning and land
• parking, roads and transport
• business and licensing
• parks, libraries and culture
• jobs, careers and volunteering.

Customer service team

You can contact our customer service team if you cannot find the service or information you’re looking for on our website.

When you phone our customer service number, you’ll be speaking to Millie, our digital phone assistant. If Millie is not able to answer your questions, you’ll be connected to one of our customer service advisers instead.

Our phone advisors are available:

• Monday to Thursday from 8:45am to 4:45pm
• Friday from 8:45am to 3:55pm.

Contact our customer service team:

Languages other than English

Gaelic (Gàidhlig)

We welcome people contacting us in Gaelic.

You can also translate our website using Google Translate (Google Translate website).

Bidh sinn daonnan a' cur fàilte air conaltradh sam bith ann an Gàidhlig.

’S urrainn dhuibh cuideachd ar làrach-lìn eadar-theangachadh ma chleachdas sibh Google Eadar-theangaich (làrach-lìn Google Eadar-theangaich).
 

British Sign Language

You can ask Contact Scotland BSL about their free BSL video interpreting service (Contact Scotland BSL website) if you need to speak to us in British Sign Language (BSL).

Other languages

You can use free, online translation services – such as Google Translate (Google Translate website) – if you need to email us in another language.

You can also translate our website using Google Translate (Google Translate website).

Alternative formats

Phone our customer service team on 0300 300 0330 if you need information in another format, such as Braille or large print.

Elected officials

Find out how to contact councillors, council boards, and the provost.

Feedback and complaints

If you’d like to give us feedback on our services, contact us by phone, email, or post.

Find out how to make a complaint about one of our services.

Becoming a private landlord

Registering as a private landlord

All private landlords, with some limited exceptions, have to register as a private landlord.

General guidance

Read the Scottish Government's private renting policy (gov.scot website).

Providing a tenancy agreement

You must give your tenant a tenancy agreement when they move into the rental home.

Tenancy agreements list certain information, rights, and responsibilities between you and your tenant, such as:

• your name
• the tenant's name
• the address of the property they'll be renting
• the date the tenancy began
• whether other people are allowed to use the property
• how much rent they'll need to pay, when to pay it, and how to pay it
• how often and when their rent can increase
• who will pay the council tax and utility bills
• whether you'll provide any additional services
• how much notice you and your tenant must give before one of you can end the tenancy.

Learn more about tenancy agreements (Citizens Advice Scotland website).

If you do not meet your obligations

If you fail to meet any of your legal obligations as a landlord, your tenant can raise this with the Housing and Property Chamber of the First-tier Tribunal for Scotland.

Where the Housing and Property Chamber establish that the landlord has not met the requirements of the repairing standard or complied with their duties set out in relevant housing law, they can take enforcement action, which might include serving a Rent Penalty Notice.

Landlords who fail to maintain their private rented property risk being removed from the register of landlords.

See more information about your responsibilities for repairs (Housing and Property Chamber website).

Our guide for private tenants

See what information and guidance we provide for private tenants.

Houses of Multiple Occupation (HMOs)

If you rent your property out to 3 or more unrelated people, you'll need a Houses in Multiple Occupation (HMOs) licence. To get an HMO licence, you must be able to show that:

• you meet your responsibilities in relation to common repairs
• all property is clean and well maintained
• all relevant gas and electrical certification is up to date
• fire escape routes are well maintained.

Fire safety

As a landlord, you're responsible for your rented property being compliant with fire and safety standards.

The council has enforcement powers for safety standards of homes if a landlord does not install the correct systems in their rented properties, as it poses a safety risk to tenants.

If you make an insurance claim and your property is not compliant, your claim may fail.

Every Scottish home must have:

• 1 smoke alarm in the living room or the room you use most
• 1 smoke alarm in every hallway or landing
• 1 heat alarm in the kitchen.

All smoke and heat alarms should be mounted on the ceiling and be interlinked.

Interlinked means if one alarm goes off, they all go off, so you will always hear an alarm wherever you are in the property.

If there's a boiler, fire, heater or flue in any room, there must also be a tamper-proof carbon monoxide detector in that room. The detector alarm does not need to be linked to the fire alarm system.

You can read more information about the law on fire and smoke alarms (Scottish Government website).

Antisocial behaviour

All landlords have a responsibility for monitoring and dealing with complaints relating to antisocial behaviour by their tenants or their visitors. We'll investigate all complaints of antisocial behaviour.

Learn more about antisocial behaviour.

Evictions

There are certain processes you must follow if you're planning on evicting someone. This is so we have plenty of notice when someone is at risk of losing their home.

Find out what you must do if you're evicting someone or repossessing their home.

This guide covers some of the responsibilities you must if you're a private landlord or planning on becoming one.

What common areas are

When you buy a flat, you take on rights and responsibilities for the common areas and parts of the whole building.

You jointly own these common areas and parts with other owners in the building. Common areas and parts include:

• foundations and outside walls
• chimneys, stacks and vents
• the close and staircase
• bin stores and back courts
• the roof
• gutters, downpipes and drainage system
• door entry system
• common paths.

Who is responsible for common area repairs

If your building's common areas need to be repaired, every owner must pay a share of any common charges for works and services.

Your title deeds normally tell you about your rights and responsibilities for your own property and for your shared responsibility for the whole building. They may also detail your proportional share of common costs and your obligations to manage and maintain the building jointly with the other owners.

If all of the flats in a building do not have the same conditions set out in their deeds, you should get advice from a solicitor or refer to legislation under the Tenements (Scotland) Act 2004 (GOV.UK website).

You may decide that the easiest way to handle maintenance and repairs is to hire a property manager or factor to take care of it for you. However, you may decide to self-manage the building, meaning that you and your co-owners would carry out any management work directly.

Property that's jointly owned with the council

Most council flats are in buildings which are jointly owned with private homeowners. Cooperation and participation from all owners is  essential in securing common repairs and improvements in these buildings.

We will not carry out repairs or improvements without consulting other owners within the building first. However, we can carry out common repairs if a majority of owners agree to the work. We'll also intervene if emergency common repairs are needed, particularly when a problem that needs repairing directly affects a council-owned property.

We'll assess and prioritise other, more general repairs that owners or tenants report. We might need to defer some jobs due to budget restrictions.

Grants for common repairs works are generally no longer available from the council. However, owners may receive grant assistance as part of council-led major investment works carried out in mixed-tenure block properties.

See the Common Repairs and Property Management leaflet, which explains how we can get involved in buildings where we own flats alongside private owners.

Advice on repairs and maintenance for flat owners

See the Under One Roof website for useful information for homeowners about common areas, including:

• articles on flat owners' legal responsibilities towards their co-owners
• technical information to enable owners to identify repair problems
• technical information to enable owners to understand quotations from builders
• drawings and photographs to help owners identify the various parts that make up their building
• sample letters for use when corresponding with your neighbours
• advice on dealing with owners who refuse to participate in repairs.

Contact us

For more information on organising common repairs, email us at ownersenquiries@renfrewshire.gov.uk.

If you own your home, you're responsible for helping to maintain and repair common areas of your building. Read this guide for information, advice, and to learn what your responsibilities are.

Small repairs to your home

Through Care & Repair Renfrewshire's small repairs service, you can get repairs done to your home, such as:

• small joinery repairs
• small electrical and plumbing repairs
• some general support, such as hanging curtains and turning mattresses.

The labour is free. You'll just need to pay for any materials used.

You can use the small repairs service if you either:

• 60 or older
• disabled
• the parent or guardian of someone who gets a disability or sickness benefit including Disability Living Allowance (DLA), Personal Independence Payment (PIP), Attendance Allowance, or Employment and Support Allowance (ESA).

Learn more about the small repairs service (Care & Repair Renfrewshire website)

Adaptations to your home

If you or someone you live with has difficulty getting in and out of your home, it may be possible to adapt your house to make it more suitable for your needs.

An occupational therapist from our social work services can visit you to discuss your requirements. They'll be able to suggest adaptations that can help you get the most out of your home.

We may be able to help you with the cost of any equipment or temporary adaptations that the occupational therapist recommends. If they recommend a permanent adaptation, you may be able to get a grant to help you meet the cost.

This grant will cover 80% of the cost of the work. Depending on your financial circumstances, you may be able to get a higher level of grant support for up to 100%.

Learn more about adapting your home

Getting permission from your landlord for adaptations

If you're a tenant of a private landlord, you'll need your landlord's permission to make any adaptations to your home. You have a right to adapt the property you live in, so your landlord should not refuse permission without a good reason.

Council tax 

If your home is specially adapted to meet your needs, you may be able to get to a council tax discount.

Learn about council tax discounts on homes adapted for people with disabilities

Contact us

Email us at ownerservices.hps@renfrewshire.gov.uk if you have questions about adapting your home.

This guide lists some help and support available for older or disabled home owners and private tenants.

We have separate information for people living in council housing.