SafeDeposits Scotland Blog

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

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

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

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

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

Items Left Behind - Help or Hindrance?

Posted on Wednesday 14th of August 2019

What do games consoles, designer clothes and coffee tables have in common? They are among the many personal possessions to have been left behind by tenants after they have moved out of private rented properties in Scotland. To some that may be surprising - that people would leave their belongings (some of which could be considered valuable) behind - but it is actually quite a common occurrence. The reasons for tenants moving on minus that television or...Read More