Prs

Housing minister Kevin Stewart is writing to all commercial letting agents to highlight a new statutory Code of Practice and the need to comply by January 31 2018. The code sets out standards that must be met in how letting agents deliver services. It includes specific requirements on how clients’

Shelter Scotland asked private renters about the conditions in their property. Lisa Glass outlines what they had to say. In June 2017 we gathered the views of over 200 private tenants on the Scottish Government’s proposal to introduce a minimum energy efficiency standard for private rented homes,

The average private rented sector (PRS) rents in Scotland’s cities increased by 1.5% to reach a record high of £789 per month in the second quarter of 2017 as demand from tenants continued to exceed supply, according to new figures. The latest index data from Citylets revealed that the increase w

It’s always a huge relief when your tenancy deposit comes back, even if you’re sure you left everything spick and span when you moved out! After the deposit is released by the protection scheme it’s registered with, you can claim it. But what if you’re one of the thousands of tenants who don

A move to introduce a Scottish-style ban on letting agent fees in England was included in the Queen’s Speech yesterday. The UK government proposal to remove the fees paid by tenants in the private rented sector will be published as a draft bill for further scrutiny.

A free online resource which offers tenants and landlords a comprehensive guide to private renting in Scotland is to be given a total overhaul after a funding award of £43,500 from SafeDeposits Scotland Trust. The award, the largest the Trust has ever made, was donated to site owner Shelter Scotlan

Weslo Property Management tenants got together last week for their second tenant participation group meeting. Since their first meeting in March, the group, the first private sector scrutiny and development group of its kind in Scotland, have been working on a range of topics such as private sector

The increase in pensioner bachelor pads as divorce rates among older couples become more regular has seen the number of pensioners in private rental properties across the UK reach record levels, according to a lettings index. As a growing number of so-called "silver splitters" are moving into rented

Private rent levels in Scotland were up 6% in the year to May 2017, with the typical rental property letting for £574 a month, according to the latest buy-to-let index from Your Move Scotland. Edinburgh is showing a “strong” performance, according to the index. Prices in the city and surroundin

Mike Bruce In a new opinion piece for CIH Scotland, Mike Bruce, chief executive of Weslo Housing Management reflects on borrowing conditions in the Buy to Let market and its place in an ever growing private rented sector.

James Andersen Grant Thornton’s James Andersen on the need to tackle Scotland’s housing crisis and the role that the Private Rented Sector (PRS) can play in this.

An exhibition of photographs depicting powerful, profound and light-hearted views of what it’s like to rent privately in Scotland arrives in Aberdeen today. Shelter Scotland and arts group Open Aye gave cameras and training in photography to people who rent their homes privately so tenants could s

Tenants’ union Living Rent has secured a new home for single mum Amanda Gallagher who was facing imminent eviction from her and her son’s family home. Amanda’s struggle began when her letting agent, Glasgow-based AVJ Homes, issued an email to Amanda requesting that she pay an illegal £20 admi

Lisa Glass, a policy officer at Shelter Scotland, urges tenants to have their say on issues affecting the private rented sector. Are you a private tenant?

By Rob Trotter, associate director of DJ Alexander Property Managers In January 2018 the new Residential Tenancy Agreement will come into effect. The main change leading to concern with landlords across Scotland is that lease agreements will now be on an indefinite tenancy instead of the original 6-