SafeDeposits Scotland Blog

SafeDeposits Scotland - Coming to a Town Near You?

Posted on Wednesday 7th of August 2019

In 2018-19 the SafeDeposits Scotland team travelled an estimated 12,317 miles across the length and breadth of Scotland to educate and inform landlords, letting agents and tenants on tenancy deposit legislation and what happens when lodging a deposit with a tenancy deposit scheme such as ourselves. Our travels continue and in recent months we've delivered a training session to Citizens Advice Bureau staff in Orkney, attended landlord and letting agent...Read More

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

What Happens When There is a Dispute Between Tenants?

Posted on Wednesday 10th of July 2019

Disagreements happen. Our alternative dispute resolution (ADR) team works daily to help resolve disputes between tenants and landlords or letting agents. This is a free service that we provide to users in the unfortunate event that a tenancy ends with a disagreement surrounding repayment of the deposit. It is regrettable for all parties when such a scenario arises, but conflict is not something that is exclusive to tenant-landlord/letting agent...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

Student Tenancies - What Happens at the End... and the Beginning

Posted on Wednesday 19th of June 2019

For students across Scotland, summer heralds the end of the academic year. Exam results are being published, glad rags are being donned for summer balls and for those at the end of their studies it is time for graduation. For many, the conclusion of the university or college year also means the end of their tenancy - some students may be moving back home or on to pastures new having graduated, while others may simply have a change of circumstances; perhaps,...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