SafeDeposits Scotland Blog

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

Disputes can often be a stressful, disagreements can arise during a tenancy for a number of reasons. It's best for tenants and landlords alike to be able to look to and resolve issues that may arise during or after the tenancy. SafeDeposits always offers free, impartial adjudication on disputes over tenancy deposits. Avoiding disputes during a tenancy 1. Communication. If a problem arises during your tenancy it is important to talk about the issue as soon as possible. Keep a...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

The action a tenant needs to take in relation to a garden should be clearly set out in the tenancy agreement. Tenants should always read the tenancy agreement before signing it and if you have any questions ask your potential landlord beforehand. Generally speaking, a tenant should be expected to keep a garden neat, including paths, lawn and flowerbeds and to return the garden in the same condition as at check in. The garden should be seen as an extension house. The same principle as the...Read More

How do I know if my deposit has been protected? Your landlord has 30 working days from the tenancy start date to transfer your deposit to a government-approved tenancy deposit scheme, and provide you with particular key information. The key information should include the name and contact details of the tenancy deposit scheme which protects your money. After they have received your deposit, the scheme will also send you a deposit protection certificate to confirm your money is...Read More

Not all tenancies run smoothly, sometimes things can go wrong. You may think about withholding rent in order to force your landlord to do something, such as repairs. You may think that withholding rent is justified if you feel you have been unfairly treated. Whatever the circumstance and however you feel, withholding rent is always a risky option. Tenant and landlord responsibilities A fundamental part of the tenancy agreement is the tenant's obligation to pay rent to live...Read More