SafeDeposits Scotland Blog

First-Tier Tribunal - The First 18 Months

Posted on Wednesday 24th of July 2019

In December 2017 the jurisdiction of the First-tier Tribunal for Scotland (Housing and Property Chamber) expanded to include applications in respect of Private Sector Rented Cases and Private Residential Tenancies. In the 18 months since this came into effect the Tribunal has presided over a number of cases involving unprotected tenancy deposits. At SafeDeposits Scotland we have monitored the tenancy deposit cases going before the Tribunal, with decision...Read More

Changes to Landlord Registration

Posted on Wednesday 17th of July 2019

Following public consultation in 2018, the Scottish Government is introducing changes that will require landlords to declare whether or not they comply with specific duties. This will supplement the general declaration about compliance, and will provide local authorities with more helpful information to help them decide whether a landlord should be approved or not. Subject to the Parliamentary process, the change will come into force on 16th September...Read More

New Projects Funded by the SafeDeposits Scotland Charitable Trust

Posted on Wednesday 26th of June 2019

As we reach the half-way mark of 2019, we thought it was a good time to look at what's been happening at the SafeDeposits Scotland Charitable Trust so far this year. Funds have been awarded to a variety of projects - from a service in mainland Scotland's smallest council area, to a UK-wide research programme - and the Trust continues to seek expressions of interest. In February £29,845 was awarded to the Mediation Clinic at the University of...Read More

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