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

Tenants Complete Research Survey

Posted on Wednesday 8th of May 2019

We're very grateful to over 320 tenants who recently responded to the survey in our latest e-newsletter. Our Tenant Research Survey was created to provide an insight into the tenant population in Scotland. We felt that this research was particularly important as tenants can't simply be characterised as a single group of people - they come from all walks of life, which was reaffirmed by some of the results within the survey. Often the tenant portrayed in the media is a millennial who is...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

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

Tenancy Considerations on National No Smoking Day

Posted on Tuesday 12th of March 2019

Wednesday 13th March is National No Smoking Day. We're not here to tell people whether they should smoke or not, but we have put together a few points on the impact that smoking can have on a rented property (and indeed any property) and some things that landlords and tenants should take into consideration in relation to smoking. There is no shortage of effects that smoking can have on a property. Smell is one of the legacies of a smoker in the room -...Read More