SafeDeposits Scotland Blog

Fair Wear and Tear - What is it?

Posted on Wednesday 13th of February 2019

They say "All's fair in love and war", but what's fair in wear and tear? Fair wear and tear isn't just a catchphrase that happens to rhyme nicely - it's a legally recognised term surrounding the change that will take place in a property over time, through neither intentional damage or neglect. The House of Lords definition of fair wear and tear is: "Reasonable use of the premises by the tenant and the ordinary operation of natural forces." It is...Read More

New Trust Funded Projects Start in 2019

Posted on Wednesday 6th of February 2019

The SafeDeposits Scotland Charitable Trust - the grant-giving charity designed to help improve Scotland's private rented sector (PRS) - is looking forward to the year ahead, as a host of projects funded by the Trust gets underway. The Trust is also seeking further expressions of interest from individuals and organisations who have exciting and innovative suggestions that would enhance the workings of the PRS in Scotland. Since launching in 2016, the...Read More

Changes on the Way for the Repairing Standard

Posted on Wednesday 30th of January 2019

The Private Rented Sector (PRS) will see further legislative changes over the next few years, with the next date for the diary just weeks away. These particular changes relate to Scotland's Repairing Standard and here we summarise what to expect. The Repairing Standard is a basic level of repair that private rented properties must meet. It is a landlord's duty to make sure the property they're renting out meets the Repairing Standard, whose requirements...Read More

Big Energy Saving Week

Posted on Wednesday 23rd of January 2019

Did you know... this week is Big Energy Saving Week. It's a national campaign led by Citizens Advice which aims to help people cut their energy bills and get all the financial support they are entitled to. The Citizens Advice website contains a variety of resources related to saving money on energy costs (including an energy price comparison tool), improving energy efficiency and more. Some of the top (and simple) tips for minimising energy waste and...Read More

Business as normal after major fire affects servers

Posted on Wednesday 16th of January 2019

At approximately 4pm on Wednesday 9th January a serious fire broke out at the Tenancy Deposit Scheme's (England and Wales) head office on Mark Road in Hemel Hempstead. All staff were evacuated safely with no casualties, but the fire impacted servers shared by SafeDeposits Scotland. While the building suffered extensive damage, a business continuity plan was successfully implemented. Although customers may have experienced a brief delay in email...Read More

Deposit Protection at Your Fingertips... 365 Days a Year

Posted on Wednesday 9th of January 2019

Whether you were celebrating Christmas or not, we hope that you managed to enjoy at least a day or two relaxing over the recent holiday period. We know however that in the busy private rented sector, few things stand still - it's a fact of life that people need to move into properties and start new tenancies throughout the year and indeed, the holidays are often the most suitable time for tenants to move due to their own work or education commitments. For...Read More