SafeDeposits Scotland Blog

SafeDeposits Scotland is the only not-for-profit deposit scheme meaning that we can use any financial surpluses we make to make a positive difference to Scotland's private rented sector (PRS). To do that, we set up the SafeDeposits Scotland Charitable Trust, a grant-giving charity that promotes and facilitates education, training and best practice within the sector by funding projects that provide tangible benefits to landlords, letting agents and tenants alike. The Trust is currently...Read More

The importance of contact details When a landlord registers a deposit, we ask for contact details for the tenant, specifically a phone number (preferably a mobile number) and email address. We can't stress enough how important contact details are: we need to be able to contact the tenant after they move out of the property to ask them to complete the repayment steps. If we can't contact the tenant, the repayment will be much slower for the landlord and tenant. As we need to contact the...Read More

The importance of contact details When a landlord registers a deposit, we ask for contact details for the tenant, specifically a phone number (preferably a mobile number) and email address. We can't stress enough how important contact details are: we need to be able to contact the tenant after they move out of the property to ask them to complete the repayment steps. If we can't contact the tenant, the repayment will be much slower for the landlord and tenant. As we need to contact the...Read More

When you move in to a new home, make sure there's a detailed inventory which you agree with. If something is already broken or dirty when you move in but it isn't written on the inventory, you could end up having to pay for it when you move out. What is an inventory? An inventory is a list of everything in the property when you move in (for example, furniture, décor, fixtures and fitting, etc.) and the condition they're in (for example, 'brand new, never...Read More

On 1 December 2017 new legislation came into force. This means now tenants should now go to the First-tier Tribunal for Scotland (Housing and Property Chamber) if landlords or letting agents do not protect their deposits. Previously tenants had to raise a 'summary application' in the Sheriff court against their landlord if they had not protected their deposit. There are no fees involved in taking a case to the First Tier Tribunal. Unprotected deposits Your landlord has to...Read More

Many landlords don't allow any permanent changes to be made to their property. If you have an established and trusting relationship with your landlord they may be happy for you to make alterations. You will have to reach an agreement before thinking of doing anything - if you don't you may lose out on your deposit at the end of the tenancy. Any agreement reached should be put in writing so there is no room for disagreement at the end of the tenancy. If it's a phone call...Read More