SafeDeposits Scotland Blog

One of the most common reasons that people come to Shelter Scotland for help with is disputes between tenants and landlords. These represented 10% of all the cases we saw in 2016-17, and 20% of the cases from people who live in the private rented sector (PRS). Even more staggeringly, 46% of all the people who came to us for help were living in the PRS - a group that only makes up 14% of all households in Scotland. So, what can you do, as a tenant, to ensure...Read More

At SafeDeposits Scotland, we regularly analyse the data we hold to take the temperature of the private rented sector and to look out for trends. We recently looked at where landlords were in relation to the properties they rented and noticed an interesting pattern. Since SafeDeposits was founded in 2012, there has been a dramatic increase in landlords living in England and renting property in Scotland. In 2012, 260 landlords based in England registered deposits on Scottish tenancies,...Read More

Why should I let to a tenant with a pet? The choice to allow a pet to live in your property is entirely up to you, but with almost 12 million households in the UK owning a pet, many landlords and letting agents are increasingly letting to tenants with pets to tap into this growing part of the private rented sector and grow their business. As the demand for pet-friendly properties still outstrips supply, tenants who find a landlord who will welcome their furry friend will often stay in...Read More

Who is liable for damage will be dependent on whether there is one tenancy agreement signed by everyone or if each of the tenants sign separate tenancy agreements. If you're yet to move in you should contact your agent/landlord to find out which one of these will be relevant to your tenancy. Joint tenancy agreements If you sign a joint tenancy agreement with other people, you're all liable for each other's actions during that tenancy. The contract is signed by everyone and...Read More

If you're renting somewhere to live from a private landlord or letting agent and pay them a deposit, your money should be protected with a tenancy deposit scheme. This includes if you've moved somewhere new for college or university and are renting while you're a student. The landlord or letting agent will usually ask you to pay a deposit before you move in, then they legally have to transfer your money to a tenancy deposit scheme within 30 working days of the tenancy start date. The...Read More

If you want to make alterations to a property what's absolutely key is to speak to your landlord or agent before you do anything! Don't think you can put in a hatch to your best pal's flat and no one will notice. Getting a nice set of curtains won't do it. 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...Read More