SafeDeposits Scotland Blog

Private Residential Tenancy - FAQs

Posted on Wednesday 5th of June 2019

The Private Residential Tenancy (PRT) hit its 18-month anniversary on Saturday, having come into force on 1st December 2017. With information from the Scottish Government, we've rounded up some frequently asked questions about this relatively new type of tenancy in Scotland. Can a landlord put a fixed term or end date on a PRT? No. PRTs are open-ended, with no fixed-term period and no end date. Landlords are no longer able to regain possession of their...Read More

National BBQ Week - The Burning Issues

Posted on Wednesday 29th of May 2019

Maybe someone should tell the weather but - fanfare please - it's National BBQ Week!

We thought we'd mark the occasion by looking at potential tenancy issues that can arise through the culinary art form that is the barbeque, and how to avoid these while enjoying a great outdoor feast.

If you're fortunate enough to have a garden with your rented property, then a summer barbeque (or even a...Read More

Deductions Proposal Template - A Helpful New Tool

Posted on Thursday 25th of April 2019

We have recently introduced a brand new tool for landlords and letting agents to use at the end of a tenancy, should they find themselves needing to make a claim on the deposit. We deal with over 3,500 tenancy disputes each year and our Proposal for deductions from the tenancy deposit template has been created to help landlords and agents set out their case for any deductions in a transparent way. The template requires the landlord or agent to properly...Read More

How to Avoid a Dispute Growing in the Garden

Posted on Thursday 18th of April 2019

Around the corner from our office the daffodils are in full bloom, and up and down the country other signs of summer are starting to pop up - the buzz of lawnmowers has reappeared, supermarkets are promoting garden furniture... So there's no time like the present to revisit one of the areas of certain tenancies that can cause disagreement, and to look at how such disputes can be avoided. We are of course talking about gardening. A garden is a lovely asset...Read More

Paying a Deposit in Instalments

Posted on Thursday 11th of April 2019

The SafeDeposits Scotland team has been out and about across Scotland in recent months, both hosting and attending a variety of events aimed at landlords, letting agents and tenants. It is always good to meet face to face the people who use the scheme, and we're pleased to answer any questions that they may have. One query that popped up on a few occasions was whether it is possible for a tenant to pay their tenancy deposit in instalments and if so how...Read More

Frequently Asked Questions About the First-tier Tribunal

Posted on Wednesday 3rd of April 2019

Since 1st December 2017, the First-tier Tribunal for Scotland (Housing and Property Chamber) has received and dealt with applications in respect of Private Sector Rented Cases and Private Residential Tenancies. SafeDeposits Scotland closely monitors cases handled by the First-tier Tribunal, particularly those where tenancy deposits are concerned. As an impartial scheme we would direct any parties - tenants, landlords and letting agents - to the Tribunal...Read More