hire - Scottish Association of Landlords

Transcription

The Magazine of the Scottish Association of Landlords
landlordfocus
issue 13| Spring 2013
scottishlandlords.com
Motherwell:
much to offer
Focus on LanarkshireÕs letting prospects
+
Animal magic
A campaign is launched
to make life easier for
tenants with pets
Green is good
Grants for landlords taking
the energy-efficient route
In association with
 Welfare reform | Tenancy deposits | Property investment | Update | Franchising
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 BuildiNg aNd coNTeNTS iNSuRaNce
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 ReNT guaRaNTee
Call us today and find out why we’re the
number one choice for members of the
Scottish Association of Landlords
01603 216399
www.alanboswell.com/scottish
Welcome

Online
www.scottishlandlords.com
Our constituency: all involved
in the private rented sector
judith
dunn
editor
I
’m delighted to introduce the
new issue of Landlord Focus,
the magazine of the Scottish
Association of Landlords (SAL).
We have a bumper issue for you
this time with lots to read in the
policy notes, new features including
a review of books about letting,
pet owners as tenants, franchising
for agents, pros and cons of online
agents plus the ever popular SAL
member stories and profiles not
forgetting regulars such as taxation,
helpdesk and legals.
For members who have
attended conferences, branch
events or training over the last
few months, the teams at SAL
and sister organisation Landlord
Accreditation Scotland have been
delighted to see you. For those who
choose not to attend events but do
phone in, it’s always great to hear
from you. For the others who are
happy simply receiving information
from us and having SAL on call as
peace of mind for when you need
it, hello to you as well.
Whether you’re now a loyal
reader of Landlord Focus or this
is the first time you’ve picked it
up, our aim is to provide articles
and information to keep you
both informed and occasionally
entertained. Our articles are all
specifically written from a Scottish
perspective making this publication
unique. We think this is a crucial
part of the work of the Scottish
Association of Landlords with the
political and legislative landscape
having now diverged so far from
the rest of the UK. We are very
proud that all aspects of our
magazine from writing and editing
through design, advertising sales,
publishing and printing are all done
here in Scotland.
We support members from all
over Scotland by campaigning,
lobbying, informing, assisting
and advising you, as you run your
property businesses of all shapes
and sizes. We are the voice of, and
a key resource for, all members
whether self-managing one, two
or fifty flats or on the staff of agent
member companies managing large
rental portfolios for clients. Please
let the association know what we
can do to support you in your own
business. We are always here to help
and look forward to hearing from
members. 
With best wishes,
Judith Dunn
ÔÔ
Please email us on info@
scottishlandlords.com if you have
any comments or ideas for your
magazine. Updates to information
will always be emailed to members
and available on our website www.
Find us on facebook and
twitter @scotlandlord
Landlord Focus
Hopetoun Gate
8b McDonald Road
Edinburgh
EH7 4LZ
0131 564 0100
[email protected]
Editor Judith Dunn
Advertising Kirstin Norrie
07989 227994
[email protected]
Printed by Arc Colourprint.
Views expressed in Landlord
Focus are not necessarily
those of the Scottish Association
of Landlords.
Contents: Issue 13, Spring 2013
5 Carl Bayley Spend your way to
tax savings
9 Online letting The easier way
to being a DIY landlord
10 Recycling furniture If it’s good
enough for a family member, it
could help a struggling tenant
12 Policy notes All the ways SAL
is fighting your corner and
putting across your views
16 Landlord registration Costly
policy with scant results
Cover: The Heritage
Centre in Motherwell
© William McKelvie
17 Homeowner Housing Panel
Redress for factoring complaints
19 Legals Franchising your
agency operation
22 Tenancy deposits Members’
first reactions to new schemes
24 Green Deal Cash aid towards
32 Update News of members,
branch events, and more
35 Lets with pets The Dogs Trust
aims to get animal-friendly
landlords and tenants together
improving energy efficiency of
property and appliances
36 Citylets House price rises are
27 Property investment Two men
42 Area focus: Houses are doing
offering a trouble-free way to
grow your portfolio
28 Universal credit Unforeseen
results of government policy
31 Member agent profile Local
offices make national network
outstripping rent increases
better than flats in North and
South Lanarkshire
44 Book reviews Handbooks for
the landlord newbie
46 Helpdesk What you can and
can’t charge your tenants
Spring 2013 | Landlord Focus | 3
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Carl
Bayley
The end is nigh!
Carl Bayley, author of several
plain English tax guides,
including the ever-popular
How to Avoid Property Tax,
takes a look at what action
landlords can take before
the end of the tax year to
reduce their liabilities
D
on’t panic, I’m not talking about
the end of the world but, having
survived the end of the Mayan
calendar last December, another
important end date will soon be upon
us: the end of the tax year on 5 April.
The tax year end is a critical date for
landlords because, in the vast majority
of cases, it will also represent the end
of your accounting period – individual
landlords must report property income
ItÕs the tax year
thatÕs about to
end, not the world
reflected in the
Mayan pyramid
of Chichen Itza,
above
based on the tax year ended 5 April.
The action you take before then could
help to significantly reduce the tax bill
that you will be facing next January, so it
is well worth giving it some thought.
Timing is everything
Very few landlords can afford to
spend extra money on their properties
Continued on page 6
Carl
Bayley
How to spend your way to tax savings
Continued from page 5
just to save tax but accelerating your
expenditure so that it falls into the
current tax year could save you a lot
of money next January. So, what sort
of things should you be getting your
cheque book out for?
One of the best types of expenditure
to consider accelerating into the
current tax year is repairs and
maintenance work. If you have the
work carried out by 5 April, you will
usually be able to claim it in this year’s
tax return. You probably only have to
have the work done by that date: you
will normally still be able to claim it as
a 2012-13 expense even if you do not
pay for it until later. There are some
exceptions to this – some landlords with
annual rental income of £15,000 or less
work on a cash basis so they can only
claim for expenditure when the bill is
paid.
Advertising is another type of
expenditure you might want to consider
accelerating – but only if you’ve got
a vacant property that you need to
advertise, of course.
No smoke without having to consider
harsher tax penalties after 5 April
Capital allowances
Most landlords with residential property
cannot claim capital allowances on
furniture and equipment used within
rental properties. The main exceptions
are those with furnished holiday lets;
or HMOs consisting of separate selfcontained flats where expenditure on
furniture and equipment for use in
communal areas outwith the flats will
qualify for capital allowances.
But every landlord can claim a
tax deduction for expenditure on
equipment for their own business use,
such as a computer, office furniture and
equipment, cars and vans.
Buying these items by 5 April will
mean that you can claim a deduction for
the expenditure this year. What’s more, if
the capital allowances deduction exceeds
your rental profits, you can set the excess
off against other taxable income for the
year, such as salary, trading profits or
pensions.
Most landlords can claim a 100%
deduction for expenditure on business
equipment (excluding cars) of up to
£83,562 in 2012-13 (as long as no more
than £25,000 of this was spent before 1
January 2013). Remember, however, that
6 | Landlord Focus | Spring 2013
the deduction claimed must be reduced
to reflect any private, non-business use
of the asset.
Example
Iain has employment income of £50,000
for 2012/13, as well as a rental profit of
£10,000. In March 2013, he buys a van for
£20,000 which he uses 80% in his rental
business and 20% privately.
Iain will be able to claim a deduction
of £16,000 for his van (£20,000 x 80%).
Not only will this mean that he has no tax
to pay on his rental income this year, he
will also be able to set £6,000 off against
his employment income, giving him a tax
repayment of £2,400.
By the way: if you don’t fancy a van as
such, many double-cab pickups qualify
as vans for tax purposes.
Cars
Even buying a new car by 5 April may
reduce your tax bill. The amount of
Carl Bayley is
the author of
several plain
English tax guides
including How to
Avoid Property
Tax and Using a
Property Company
to Save Tax.
Carl frequently
lectures on
property taxation
and has spoken
on the subject on
BBC radio and
television
capital allowances available on a car
depends on its CO2 emissions and the
thresholds for this are being tightened
up after 5 April: which is another good
reason to buy one by then.
For cars purchased by 5 April this
year, the capital allowances deduction
is 100% if it has CO2 emissions of no
more than 110g/km; 18% if it has CO2
emissions over 110g/km but no more
than 160g/km; and 8% if it has CO2
emissions of more than 160g/km. (From
6 April, the 160g threshold reduces to
130g and the 110g threshold reduces to
95g).
So, for example, if you buy a car
with CO2 emissions of 155g/km for
£30,000 by 5 April and use it 25% in
your rental business, you will be able to
claim a deduction of £1,350 (£30,000
x 18% x 25%), giving you a tax saving,
or repayment, of £540 next January
if you’re a higher rate taxpayer – even
more in some cases. 
© Carl Bayley 2013
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Advertorial
Scottish landlords
move online as
agent fees rise
With landlords feeling the
squeeze in Scotland, one
new company is helping
to make lives easier...
Customer Support
entify is a website for private
landlords to help them market,
manage, and make money
from their properties. Letting a
property through Rentify is free,
with adverts placed on all the
major agent-only websites such as
Rightmove, Zoopla, Primelocation
and Gumtree. Creating an advert
takes five minutes and Rentify's easy
advert creator provides valuation
help, and adds location-specific
details automatically. Once published
the advert remains online until
your property is filled, and it can be
republished again at the click of a
button.
In 2012 Rentify signed up over
60,000 users and has made a
point of talking up its customer
support as a key differentiator
from letting agents. Available
seven days per week, Rentify's
support staff are on hand over
email, SMS and telephone to
answer questions, offer advice and
help landlords tackle problems
they encounter.
“It was great to find a tenant
through Rentify within 2 days
of listing the property on your
website. Also thank you very much
for getting the references done.
I'm very satisfied with the whole
process, my new tenants, found
through Rentify will be moving-in
in a few days time. All the best
to everyone at Rentify and a big
Thank You, Raj”
Management for people who
don't like letting agents
Disrupting the Lettings
Market
In addition to a free let-only service,
Rentify offers a comprehensive
property management service,
with a dedicated account manager
to handle tenant inquiries, rent
collection, maintenance issues
and property inspections for a low
monthly fee with the first three
months of management free of
charge.
Rentify was founded in 2011 by a
group of landlords and a handful
of computer boffins, and is poised
to become the leading online
service for landlords in 2013.
R
ÔÔ
Try Rentify for free by registering
today at www.rentify.com/SAL and
receive a free tenant report on your
tenants.
Online
agents
DIY without the drawbacks
Going online to let a property
can give the landlord who
prefers independence many
of the advantages usually
found at a big agency without
the costs Ð but the website
must be chosen with care
L
andlords are used to having to
constantly adapt, retrain and move
with the times. While some like
the comfort of using traditional letting
agents who look after all aspects of the
letting process, others, for financial
reasons or preferring control, opt to
follow the route of the DIY landlord.
With legislation changing
continuously the landlord’s job is ever
more challenging and time-consuming.
No wonder, then, that many landlords
still choose the traditional letting agent
route.
It’s only sensible to choose your agent
from those with accreditation from
Landlord Accreditation Scotland (LAS)
which shows they have signed up to a
set of letting and property management
standards – contact LAS for details of
these. Another good sign is membership
of a professional body such as the
Scottish Association of Landlords (SAL)
or the Association of Residential Letting
Agents (ARLA).
The peace of mind and hassle-free
option of an agent does come at a cost,
usually both initially for tenant-finding
and then on-going management fees.
The costs of running a rental property
have risen in the last few years with
changes in legislation, rising prices and
severely limited credit options. As some
landlords struggle to make a profit
letting via an agent, the DIY method has
proved attractive. DIY is also popular
with landlords seeking more control
over managing their properties and
choosing their tenants. The resources to
support this route are ever increasing.
Major limitations to DIY letting
in the past were lack of advertising
power without a high street office plus
inaccessible and costly letting portals.
Limited access to letting documentation
and the specialist advice required for
letting also put many off.
The internet has changed this
dramatically and now the landlord can
essentially take control, matching the
advertising power of a traditional agent
by using an online letting agent, while
keeping abreast of legislation, getting
advice and having online access to all
the letting documentation required by
joining an association such as SAL.
Online letting agents mean landlords
can market properties widely and easily
on all major property portals for a fixed
one-off cost. www.iamtheagent.com;
www.upad.co.uk; www.advancetogo.
com; www.openrent.co.uk and and
www.rentify.com are examples of
online agents who charge a fixed fee
for advertising and most administer
enquiries from potential tenants. The
landlord carries out viewings and
chooses the tenant. Each of these agents
has its own pricing structure for their
services and packages, so always check
out the websites and shop around.
Rentify will advertise your property
for free while other services can be
selected and purchased as and when
required. OpenRent charges £20 (or
free for reduced services) to advertise,
arrange viewings and references,
lodge deposits into a tenancy deposit
scheme and produce a contract – NB
Scottish law at present does not support
electronic signatures for the signing of
tenancy agreements. Although not yet
available in Scotland they plan to extend
Technology can
lighten the load
on the go-it-alone
landlord
Online agents
let landlords
market
properties
widely and
easily for a fixed
one-off cost
their full RentNow service into Scotland
in the next few months.
AdvancetoGO prides itself on
being the only uniquely Scottish
online agent, saying it offers all the
necessary information for the Scottish
letting industry. The online property
management software is free to all and it
charges either £15 or £50 for advertising
your property, depending on how many
portals are used. AdvancetoGO also
offers a fully managed service similar to
that of a traditional agent.
IamtheAgent and Upad are two
other UK wide agents in the market.
Their pricing structures are similar,
charging £99 for the property listing
service with optional add-ons for other
services such as tenant referencing,
tenancy agreements and more. Both
offer a fully managed option but this
may not be available in all areas so it is
worth checking before signing up. As
with any internet resource, always be
careful to check any documents used are
compliant with Scots law.
Most online agents require the
landlord to carry out viewings and
only one mentions the option of
accompanied viewings on its website.
This seems to be the main point of
difference to the traditional letting agent
when considering the “fully managed”
option. The landlord retains control of
meeting and choosing tenants, though as
this is one of the most time-consuming
activities of property rental Ð for some
landlords, this investment of personal
time may outweigh the cost benefit.
Some landlords employ an agent
because they live far from the rental
property, making viewings tricky, so
online letting agents may not be the
route for all.
The clarification of Scottish legislation
on “illegal premiums” – that is, charging
a tenant anything other than rent or
deposit – may well result in price rises
for landlords with all types of agents.
Some agents say they plan to leave the
industry altogether, others predict new
style agents will emerge.
Property portal Property118.com says
that plans are imminent for a brand
new online option for Scotland to be
announced soon, so interesting times are
ahead in a period of fast paced change in
the industry. 
ÔÔ
Landlord Accreditation Scotland
www.landlordaccreditationscotland.com
Furniture
re-use
Furnishing a helping hand…
Landlords can help the
environment, their tenants,
themselves and society in
general by taking advantage
of ScotlandÕs many furniture
recycling schemes
F
urniture re-use projects play an
important social and environmental
role in Scotland. There are more
than 50 furniture re-use projects across
the country, providing much needed
training, employment and volunteering
opportunities in areas where social
deprivation is often widespread.
The projects can provide hope
and opportunity to unemployed and
low-income families living on the edges
of subsistence.
Registered social landlords can
work in partnership with a furniture
re-use project to provide furniture to
low-income tenants or tenants leaving
homelessness. One way to provide the
furniture is via a voucher scheme funded
by your organisation, whereby your
tenant receives a furniture voucher to
spend at a nearby furniture project. This
allows them to purchase the necessary
items for setting up home. It has been
shown that providing furniture to
people leaving homelessness increases
tenancy sustainability. Ordinarily, 25%
of all homeless tenancies fail within the
first twelve months, but if furniture is
provided, the failure rate drops to 14%
– a staggering 44% reduction in failed
tenancies. This represents a significant
number of people staying in their homes
beyond the first year and not falling back
into the repeat homelessness cycle.
Furniture turns a house into a home
and something as simple as curtains can
make all the difference to a family fleeing
domestic violence.
A survey by the Scottish Council
for Single Homeless found that the
average cost to local authorities of a
failed tenancy is £23,000 to £25,000.
This is a staggering amount of money
and includes costs such as lost rent,
temporary accommodation and
additional maintenance costs.
Last year, furniture re-use projects in
Scotland diverted almost 14,000 tonnes
of furniture from landfill, for re-use.
Since reusing one tonne of furniture
saves four tonnes of CO2 emissions, that
is 56,000 fewer tonnes of CO2 going into
our environment.
If you are a private landlord, or a
registered social landlord, then you
can donate your surplus or unwanted
furniture to a local project. However,
Featured project: EFI
Scotland has
50-plus furniture
recycling schemes
If you would
be happy to
give a piece
of furniture to
a member of
your family, it is
acceptable to a
re-use project
certain standards must be adhered to
regarding the quality of the furniture
donated. The rule of thumb is that if
you would be happy to give a piece of
furniture to a member of your own family
who is in need, then it is of an acceptable
quality to go to a furniture re-use project.
Safety standards must also be adhered
to, and all soft furnishings must have
their fire safety labels attached, otherwise
projects cannot accept them.
The Scottish Government funds
a furniture co-ordinator, Lesley
McAleenan, whose role is to support
furniture re-use projects and promote
the work that they do to registered
social landlords across Scotland,
including local authorities and housing
associations.
The co-ordinator can also arrange
for landlords to visit furniture re-use
projects in their area 
Edinburgh Furniture Initiative (EFI)
is a furniture re-use social enterprise
offering a free furniture and
appliance pickup service Monday
to Friday throughout Edinburgh
and the Lothians for our donors.
The furniture is sold in our two
Edinburgh based stores. Donations
can be arranged by contacting us on
0131 557 7900.
The money raised from EFI
supports our parent charity Four
Square and itÕs services. Four
Square is a registered charity
which has been working to help
people at risk of homelessness
throughout Edinburgh for over 35
years offering a number of support
services including; emergency
accommodation, training flats and
tenancy support for young people,
in addition to employability services.
EFI works with the employability
service ÒConnectedÓ giving long
term unemployed people from
disadvantaged backgrounds the
chance to volunteer within our stores
and pickup services.
ÔÔ
More information and the
location of our EFI shops can
be found on our website: www.
foursquare.org.uk
ÔÔ
Finding a furniture re-use project
in your area could not be simpler.
Visit www.morethanfurniture.org.uk to
view a list of every project in Scotland,
categorised by local authority area.
Advertorial
Building support
for landlords
By Craig Pollock, Senior Manager for Bank of Scotland
Despite the persistence of recession and tough economic
conditions, confidence in the property sector has resulted in
a welcomed upturn in the first half of 2012, according to the
findings of the recently released Commercial Property
Confidence Monitor survey by Lloyds TSB Commercial.
This confidence brings with it the prospect of growth. At Bank
of Scotland, we understand that in order for property businesses
to take advantage of the available opportunities, they must
know they can access the support and finance they need to
achieve their ambitions.
To facilitate this support, we recently set up a dedicated
property team to support businesses across Scotland. This
team consists of specialist Relationship Managers who undergo
continued professional development to ensure that they are
fully up to speed on changes in the industry.
They form part of a wider network of 100 property Relationship
Managers across Great Britain, with each one managing a
portfolio of property businesses, ranging from landlords,
letting agencies and property developers.
Our approach to our customers tends to differ from that of
traditional buy to let (BTL) lenders in that we seek an in depth
understanding of the business’ strategy, profits and cash
flows as opposed to a formulaic loan to value (LTV) income
multiplier approach.
Our approach enables us to provide support to our customers
throughout the economic cycle and we have a range of financial
products available to meet customers’ needs.
We have a range of funding options which can help landlords
invest in their property portfolio, including the Bank of Scotland
Funding for Lending scheme. Through this, we can offer:
• A1%reductionintheinterestratefornewbusiness
loans and hire purchase
• Upto25yearstermforResidentialInvestment
• Aminimumloanamountof£1,000withno
maximum limit
This scheme, which is also available on commercial mortgages,
follows on from the successful completion of the Government’s
National Loan Guarantee Scheme, where Lloyds Banking Group,
ofwhichBankofScotlandisapart,committedallofits£1.4bn
allocation to small business customers.
Now could be the time to act in order to secure growth
opportunities and we would encourage firms to take full
advantage of the guidance and support available to them
from both their lender as well as from business mentoring
and development agencies.
“At Bank of Scotland, we understand that
in order for property businesses to take
advantage of the available opportunities,
they must know they can access the
support and finance they need to
achieve their ambitions.”
Craig Pollock, Senior Manager for Bank of Scotland
For further information on how Bank of Scotland can
work with your property business, please visit
www.bankofscotlandbusiness.co.uk or contact Craig Pollock,
Senior Manager at Bank of Scotland on 07879 604744.
Any property given as security which may include
your home, may be repossessed if you do not keep up
repayments on your mortgage or other debts secured on it.
All lending is subject to a satisfactory credit assessment.
Bank of Scotland plc Registered Office: The Mound, Edinburgh EH1 1YZ. Registered in
Scotlandno.SC327000.Telephone:08706005000
Authorised and regulated by the Financial Services Authority under number 169628.
Policy notes
Stronger voices via partnerships
SAL works very hard to
communicate membersÕ
views to those in authority
and the decrees of the
authorities to its members
R
epresenting the views and
concerns of landlords across
Scotland is something we at the
Scottish Association of Landlords (SAL)
take very seriously. As the largest body
of landlords and agents in the country
it falls on SAL to ensure that the voice
of the private rented sector in Scotland
is heard.
SAL represents members on 25
national and local committees in
Scotland and, in partnership with the
Residential Landlords Association
(RLA). Jointly representing more than
20,000 members, we make sure your
voice is heard in the halls of power
be they local council, Westminster
or, mostly, Holyrood with housing
a devolved matter. There, regular
meetings with MSPs allow us to work in
partnership with elected members of all
the political parties, policy by policy.
Having facilitated the establishment
of the first all-party parliamentary
group for the private rented sector, the
RLA has consolidated its position in
Westminster as the leading voice for
private sector landlords in England.
Since the New Year, the RLA, in
partnership with SAL, has been the only
organisation providing oral evidence on
behalf of landlords to three Westminster
select committee inquiries, including
focusing on the implementation and
impact of universal credit on the private
rental sector.
SAL is the only landlord organisation
in Scotland represented on the Scottish
welfare reform working group looking
at the direct effect reforms will have.
The RLA, working in partnership with
SAL, ensures that we act as the voice of
landlords in the UK.
Meeting with the new
minister, Margaret
Burgess MSP
F
ollowing the first address to private
landlords by the Holyrood minister
responsible for housing, Margaret
Burgess, at the SAL National Landlord
12 | Landlord Focus | Autumn 2012
Holyrood hears a
lot from SAL, as
secretariat for the
cross-party group
on housing and in
other ways
Day in November, SAL held a private
meeting with her just before Christmas.
We raised our concerns about the need
for a national registration scheme for
letting agents (currently unregulated)
and highlighted our initial concerns
about the operation of the new tenancy
deposit schemes.
The minister was keen to emphasise
her belief in the need to support a
growing and valuable private rented
sector but was also concerned to
learn how current regulations might
be falling short of the government’s
expectations. SAL regularly meets
Scottish Government officials and
elected members in government, taking
the concerns of our members direct to
those who need to know.
SAL continues as
secretariat
The minister
was concerned
to learn
how current
regulations
might be falling
short of the
governmentÕs
expectations
B
eing the pre-eminent landlords’
organisation in Scotland, SAL was
one of the initial groups setting up
the first Holyrood cross-party group on
housing. We have for some years now
supported the running of the group,
which acts as a forum for MSPs to meet
industry leaders and other stakeholders
to inform them of emerging issues in the
housing sector. At the last meeting, on
16 January, we welcomed our new chair,
Labour MSP Margaret MacDougall, who
said: “As the new chair of the cross party
group on housing, I’m delighted to be
working with the Scottish Association
of Landlords as our secretariat and
other housing bodies in bringing to
the attention of MSPs the important
issues affecting housing policy in
Scotland today.” SAL looks forward to
working with the new chair and will
update members on issues discussed
during 2013. Minutes of the cross-party
group can be found on the Scottish
Parliament’s website. www.scottish.
parliament.uk/msps/1696.aspx
ÔÔ
Remember, if you have issues that
you wish SAL to raise with your elected
members then please let us know by
emailing [email protected]
Tenant information
packs start soon
F
ollowing a government
cconsultation last year to which
SAL members were invited to
respond, all landlords who issue a new
assured, or short assured tenancy will
from 1 May have a duty to provide
tenants with a tenant information pack
(TIP). At the time of going to print, the
TIP regulations had just been laid before
the Scottish Parliament. Members will
be updated by email.
Continued on page 15
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Policy notes
Keeping SAL members updated
Continued from page 12
The TIP is now available to view on
the Scottish Government website. The
pack, and background information
on what its introduction means for
landlords and tenants, can be viewed at:
www.scotland.gov.uk/tenant/info
What is the tenant information
pack?
The pack gives information to
~~
tenants in privately rented housing.
It talks about property condition,
tenancy agreements, and the rights
and responsibilities of you and your
tenant.
Why is the pack important?
The pack sets out essential
~~
information that is relevant to you
and your tenant.
The aim of the pack is to improve the
~~
accessibility of information available
to tenants. It is recognised that good
information may already be available
to tenants and the pack is not intended
to replace this, but to provide a
minimum standard of information
available across the whole sector.
How does the pack work?
If you provide an assured or short
~~
assured tenancy, you will have a legal
duty to provide your tenant with a
TIP, under section 33 of the Private
Rented Housing (Scotland) Act 2011.
You must do this by the tenancy start
date.
The pack will be required for all new
~~
assured tenancies, including those
where you and your tenant draw up a
new lease. It will not be required for
existing leases.
The pack, which will be a standardised
~~
document, will be made available on
the Scottish Government website.
One pack should be provided per
~~
tenancy agreement.Where there is a
joint tenancy, a minimum of one pack
must be provided.
The pack must be signed (or receipted
~~
electronically) by you and your tenant.
If a landlord does not provide the
~~
pack, they can be fined up to £500.
Energy performance
certificates
F
rom 9 January 2013 the
energy performance certificate
(EPC) rating of your property
must be included in your “to let”
advertisements (e.g. EPC=C). This
provision comes under the the Energy
Performance of Buildings (Scotland)
Amendment (No. 2) Regulations 2012.
Please note that landlords are now
also required to inform prospective
tenants of the recommendations on
the EPC report.
SAL plans new letting
agent division
F
ollowing calls from corporate
members for SAL to carry out
more work representing the
interests of letting agents in Scotland,
SAL directors at their December
meeting agreed to investigate the
development of a new letting agent
division within SAL.
This exciting new project is being
developed in partnership with corporate
members and a number of members
are taking part in focus groups to look
at how this idea can be developed.
Although SAL’s primary aim has
always been to represent the interests
of landlords throughout Scotland, over
the years many letting agents have been
welcomed on board, looking to SAL
for support and advice. Naturally, as
a customer focused and member led
organisation, we want to do this to a
high standard.
ÔÔ
If you would like to note your interest
in becoming involved, please email
[email protected]
Landlord registration
number to appear
on letting adverts
A
t the time of going to print, there
has been no announcement of a
date for this to start, the Scottish
Government plans were that it would
be from “spring 2013.” We will email
members with any update to this
information as published by the Scottish
Government.
Policy can move fast and news
changes between magazine issues. SAL
updates are emailed to all members
– fortnightly or occasionally more
often depending on how much news
there is. Please make sure you receive
the members’ e-news – if you do
not, let us know by emailing info@
scottishlandlords.com 
Landlord
registration
SAL registers a major complaint
The extremely expensive scheme intended to root out rogue landlords has cost millions and achieved little
S
AL works with all parties on an
issue basis, recently working with
the Scottish Conservatives to
obtain the official figures on how much
has been spent on the much criticised
landlord registration scheme.
The written replies from the Housing
Minister Margaret Burgess MSP proved
to be frightening reading for taxpayers.
SAL again asks: Why are we continuing
to spend millions of pounds on a
scheme that seems to achieve so little?
SAL accepts that there are some
benefits to landlord registration but it
argues that we must see more robust
enforcement. We want to see results.
Non-compliant landlords must be
removed from our sector. After all, they
are criminals and need to be punished.
Introduced in 2006, the landlord
registration scheme, heralded as the
only way to crack down on rogue
landlords, has resulted in only 11 people
being reported to the procurator fiscal
With almost
£18m spent so
far, the scheme
is doing little
to inspire the
confidence of
our members or
of our tenants
in the last two years.
The scheme has cost landlords and
the taxpayer nearly £18 million since
2006.The cost breakdown revealed
that responsible landlords have paid
£11.2 million in fees, while the start-up
Scottish Government grant for the
scheme was £5.2 million. Annual
running fees for the registration website
since 2006 are estimated to be almost
£300,000.
Despite that cost, only a handful of
cases have made it as far as the Crown
Office, and only 40 landlords have been
refused registration, compared with
200,000 successful applicants. This
means that those who let out property
and were forced to join the scheme
on the grounds it would deal with
rogue landlords have paid significant
sums, and seen only a tiny amount of
enforcement.
Scottish Conservative housing
spokesman Alex Johnstone MSP
commented: “This scheme was set up
to root out the kind of rogue landlords
that have no place in the industry.
So far it has cost over £400,000 for
each landlord who has been refused
registration.
According to this scheme, since
2006, there have therefore only been 40
rogue landlords operating in Scotland.
This farcical programme, introduced
with the best of intentions, is failing
to deliver at a tremendous cost to the
taxpayer.”
The SAL chief executive, John
Blackwood, added: “With almost £18m
of government and private funds having
been spent so far , the scheme is doing
little to inspire the confidence either of
our members or of the tenants who look
to us for quality accommodation and a
good service.” 
ÔÔ
To find out more about the questions
asked of the minister, click on our
website www.scottishlandlords.com News and policy section
Homeowner
Housing Panel
Factoring in service
improvements
A new scheme of
registration of factors with
its own new complaints
system is now operational
in Scotland
T
he Property Factors (Scotland) Act
2011 came in to force last October.
With regular complaints to our
helpline from members struggling to get
decent service from some factors, we’re
keen to hear from members if the new
Act has helped them at all.
Last October a new tribunal called
the Homeowner Housing Panel (hohp)
was formed. Panel members for the
hohp were drawn from the existing
membership of the Private Rented
Housing Panel (prhp) and in addition
a further thirty two members have
been recruited to prhp/hohp following
a public appointment exercise. The
Scottish Tribunal Service provides
administrative support for the new panel.
The Property Factors Act aims to
protect homeowners by providing
minimum standards of conduct for
property factors. It applies broadly to all
residential property and land managers
whether they are private sector
businesses, local authorities or housing
associations.
There is now a compulsory public
register of all property factors operating
in Scotland. All property factors now
have to comply with a new code of
conduct which sets out minimum
standards of practice. Property factors
can only be registered by Scottish
Ministers if they are considered to
have met a fit and proper person test.
Subsequent renewals of registration
will also depend on the property factor
showing full cooperation in complying
with the code of conduct. Operating as
a property factor without registration
is now an offence liable on summary
conviction to a fine currently of
maximum £5000 or to imprisonment
for a term not exceeding six months, or
both.
Homeowners can now request
a statement of services from their
property factors and the factors must
provide this on request within 4 weeks.
The statement must provide certain
information such as the fees payable, the
charging structure and target timescales
for service delivery.
The Act allows homeowners to make
an application to the Homeowner
Housing Panel for a determination as
to whether their property factor has
failed to carry out the factoring duties,
or failed to comply with the code of
conduct. If the Homeowner Housing
Panel, which considers the application,
determines that the property factor has
failed to comply with the code or failed
to carry out the duties, then a property
factor enforcement order must be
made requiring the property factor to
take such action or make such payment
as is considered necessary. Failure to
Good factors
are invaluable
for property
maintenance
Homeowners
including
landlords can
apply to the panel
if a factoring
service is failing
to deliver
comply with such an order is a criminal
offence. 
ÔÔ
An information guide on the
Homeowner Housing Panel and an
application form can be accessed at
http://hohp.scotland.gov.uk
ÔÔ
Have you used the Act with your factor?
Any comments or member experiences of
factoring or the process of applying to the
Homeowner Housing Panel are welcomed.
[email protected]
ÔÔ
Any member who needs advice as
to whether they require to register as a
factor, please contact SAL via advice@
scottishlandlords.com or by phone on
0131 564 0100
Tel: 0131 458 3377
Edinburgh Landlord’s Service Contract
is available and includes:
Gas safety checks
PAT checks
Boiler breakdown cover
Edinburgh Landlord
Service Contract.
www.contractheating.co.uk
Edinburgh Landlord
Service Contract.
Legals
Are you ready to franchise?
Many letting agents in
Scotland are looking to
develop and expand and may
be considering franchising
their business. Susan
Law from Lindsays solicitors
looks at some of the key
issues to consider
I
n these difficult times, why would
you want to let someone else run the
business you have spent many years
building? You are relatively successful
financially and have a good reputation
in your sector so why cut it loose? The
other way to look at this, however, could
be – how can I expand my business
successfully?
Franchising businesses is not a new
concept, although this type of business
growth has increased in the UK in recent
years.
It allows someone to licence the use of
their brand and operate their business
in another area following the same
operation model. For example, you
might run a successful letting business
in Edinburgh. A cost-efficient way to
expand into the Glasgow market could
be to open a branch there but you would
have to consider all the start-up costs
for a new branch, staffing requirements,
learning the nuances of the Glasgow
letting market and managing branches at
opposite ends of the M8.
By allowing a franchisee to operate
your business in Glasgow you end up
Susan Law
is a partner
in LindsaysÕ
commercial
property
department who
specialises in
providing legal
advice for the
franchising sector.
www.lindsays.co.uk
in a win-win situation if it is set up and
operated correctly. You already have a
proven business model so funding is
(slightly) more forthcoming for this type
of expansion and you avoid the headache
of having to be in two (or three or four)
places at once.
In order to make a success of
franchising there are three main
considerations to get right:
Choosing the correct franchisee;
~~
Putting in place a detailed operation
~~
manual and procedures;
Getting the franchise contracts right.
~~
Who?
When considering the suitability of a
franchisee you need to think – could
they be my business partner? They
are the face of your brand in another
location and you need to believe they
have the skills and personality to look
after the precious brand you have spent
many years and much graft and cash
getting to where it is today − a level
where someone else wants to use it.
What?
Groundwork
and preparation
are the key
points to
franchising
Ð plus a
successful
business
A successful letting business is about
knowledge of the letting sector and
procedures to ensure the administration
of letting is correctly managed. You
need to impart all your knowledge to
your franchisee and eventually many
franchisees. The best way to do this is to
put it in black and white. You need to put
together a manual and have templates of
all the forms and documents you use. The
better the the manual is, the better the
chance that your franchises will operate
successfully.
What if?
At the outset of the discussions with
a potential franchisee, there is always
goodwill if it is the right candidate.
Although most franchise arrangements
are very successful and without dispute,
a great deal of this is because the rights
and obligations of each party are set out
in a legal contract.
The transparency of having this set
in stone means each party knows what
to expect and what is expected from
them. The franchise contract deals
with all aspects of the arrangement
from payments and costs (franchise
fee, management fee and deposit) to
territory, targets, training, term and
termination. It gives certainty to both
parties and provides a framework for
resolving disputes if the unthinkable
happens.
With a letting business in particular,
the crux of the service being sold is
a lease contract. Ensuring that this
and the other legal documents used
by the business are well drafted is
also key. This can include the terms
of business to be used with landlords
and tenants and the standard notices and
communications used. If there are to be
templates rolled out to each franchise
then a solicitor should review these.
Groundwork and preparation are
the key points to a good franchise plus,
of course, a successful business to start
with! 
ÔÔ
This article covers the general
position and specific legal advice
should be sought regarding your own
circumstances and needs.
ay
D
en m
p
O
nt 2-7p
e
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Re 5th M
1
Advertorial
Martin & Co,
the UK’s largest letting agency,
is growing even bigger in Glasgow City!
A
fter launching as
an independent territory
last year Martin & Co
Glasgow City is expanding into
larger, more accessible premises.
The UKs largest letting chain
now has three shops in the city
of Glasgow; Glasgow City in
Bridgegate, Glasgow South in
Shawlands and Glasgow West End
in Woodlands. Offices in Ayr, East
Kilbride, Kilmarnock, Stirling
and Paisley strengthen the brand
presence in the West of Scotland.
Based in Glasgow’s Briggait,
the iconic former fish market,
the new office will consolidate a
strong city centre presence for the
agency.
Joseph Quaradeghini, owner
of both the Glasgow City and
Paisley branches says, “The move
to the new premises (in an area
seen by those in the know as ‘on
the up’), shows Martin & Co’s
confidence in Glasgow and in
the local residential lettings and
sales market.” Joseph has been a
business owner with Martin &
Co since 2008 when he purchased
the Paisley franchise. Since then,
he has gone from strength to
strength and in 2012 took over
the Glasgow City business. He
added, “This relocation was
inevitable and was driven purely
by our success and growth in the
area year on year.”
Joseph works closely alongside
the other, long established, Martin
& Co offices in the city, Glasgow
South owned by Javaid Haq &
Glasgow West End owned by
Muhammad Nawaz. Joseph said,
“We have a terrific experienced
team working in the Glasgow
area and there is clearly a great
demand for the professional
Martin & Co style of customer
service. We are moving to new
offices in the Briggait. The real
advantages for us are, that we are
part of a national highly regarded
brand and now we are part of a
group of offices covering Glasgow
all working together to provide
the best possible customer
service. With added presence and
this great service, we can really
distinguish ourselves from many
of our competitors.”
Several of the Martin & Co
offices in Scotland, including
Glasgow are now offering a sales
service. The ‘subscription’ style
menu enables sellers to pick and
mix the services they want, giving
them the option for example
to have their property details
created, listed on Rightmove, plus
other major portals and Martin &
Co’s own site, but to do their own
viewings, negotiations and sales as
they wish.
In moving into the sales arena,
Joseph says, “Martin & Co realised
that not everyone wants to pay a
full estate agency fee when they
can handle much of the process
themselves.”
With just under 200 agents,
Martin & Co’s nationally
established network was voted
best large letting chain by
landlord customers at the ESTAS
2012 Letting Agent Awards. The
Glasgow Shawlands office received
Gold for best letting agent in
Scotland.
With over 25 years’ combined
experience in the lettings
industry, Joseph and his team
anticipate that the move to larger
premises with a new ‘modern
look’ will be a positive one for
the Martin & Co Glasgow City
office. 
ÔÔ
For more information or to
make an appointment, pop in
and meet the team. Alternatively,
contact Martin & Co Glasgow
City on 0141 548 8665. You can
also email glasgowcity@martinco.
com.
ÔÔ
Martin & Co Glasgow City will
be holding a recruitment open
day on 15th of March, between
2-7pm. If you are experienced in
the lettings industry, professional
and want to work with the
best, then Joseph would like
to meet you. Call to make your
appointment now.
Above: Martin & Co, Glasgow City, The Briggait; Below: ÔThe Glasgow
BoysÕ Martin & CoÕs very own!
Voted best large
letting chain by
landlords
E
ot
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‘
SAl
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Come and
meet Martin today for
a service you can rely on.
nted
iscou
for d rates
Aberdeen
01224 636 500
[email protected]
Ayr
01292 619 539
[email protected]
Bathgate
01506 676 306
[email protected]
Cupar
01334 657 219
[email protected]
Dalkeith
0131 663 3008
[email protected]
Dundee
01382 313 580
[email protected]
Dunfermline
01383 737 243
[email protected]
East Kilbride
01355 200 333
[email protected]
Glasgow City
0141 548 8665
[email protected]
Glasgow Shawlands
0141 649 5848
[email protected]
Glasgow West End
0141 352 9988
[email protected]
Kirkcaldy
01592 651 495
[email protected]
Paisley
0141 887 0080
[email protected]
Stirling
01786 448 812
[email protected]
www.martincoscotland.co.uk
Tenancy
deposits
First report on Scotland’s fledgling
schemes: could do better
Members report niggles
and problems but no
deal‑breakers in a SAL
online survey
O
ur most recent online survey
asked members their views on the
new tenancy deposit schemes. The
responses received account for around
2,200 deposits with a value of more
than £2.5 million. These figures give a
good representation of our membership
throughout Scotland and include a wide
range of deposit amounts and quantities.
SafeDeposits Scotland came out as
the most commonly used scheme with
82% of those responding using it. The
Letting Protection Service Scotland is
used by 15% of our respondents and
MyDeposits Scotland is used by just 8%.
This shows that although there are some
landlords and letting agents using more
than one scheme, it would appear that
most are using just one.
A large number of respondents have
had problems using the schemes with
42% reporting at least one problem.
These problems appear to fall into a few
categories:
Technical problems using the scheme
~~
websites;
A lack of clear communication and
~~
instruction from the schemes;
Deposit money going missing after
~~
being transferred to a scheme;
Difficulty contacting anyone from the
~~
schemes due to lack of staff.
The technical problems respondents
report are mainly with inputting
information into the website. Some of
those replying have had to make a phone
call to lodge a deposit after being unable
to do so online. Getting responses from
tenants has also been an issue, when
many have no IT access or cannot
work with what they perhaps feel is a
complicated system.
Many of the responses were regarding
a lack of clear information when a
change is made to a deposit that is held.
Deposits have been requested to be
repaid without any clear indication to
the other party and this is leading to the
tenant contacting the landlord to try
claim back their deposit.
Some of those using more than
one scheme found that the required
information being asked for is different
SafeDeposits
Scotland works
with SAL
Many members
felt the only
thing needing
improved was
an increase in
the number of
staff for them to
speak to
in each one and felt that there should be
a standard set of questions that they can
ask and no more.
Money has gone missing in one of
the schemes, 10% of those responding
said. It was all later found, but often
with long delays and resultant increased
work-load.
A common complaint has been
the difficulty in contacting someone
at the scheme provider to speak to
about deposits, presumably owing to
insufficient staffing. Some respondents
have had to wait three or four days for a
phone response and often had one only
after repeated calls.
Many commented that they found
the staff they dealt with very helpful and
that it was only the waiting time that was
a problem.
Despite these issues, 63% of those
responding rated their experience of
working with the schemes as either good
or very good and many felt the only
thing needing to be improved was an
increase in the number of staff available
for them to speak to.
It appears, however that many
landlords and letting agents who
responded have yet to experience the
full process through to adjudication
and are reserving feedback on possible
improvements until then.
SAL works in partnership with
SafeDeposits Scotland and a benefit of
SAL membership is that we can take
your complaints and queries straight
to it. SafeDeposits Scotland Director
of Operations Rebecca Johnston
commented: “We are delighted that so
many SAL members have chosen to
lodge their deposits with SafeDeposits
and welcome any feedback about the
service we provide. Customer service
is of utmost importance to us, and we
strive to provide a system that is both
simple and efficient.
“We want to continue working with
you, and would encourage any members
to talk to us directly with any feedback,
good or bad. John Blackwood (SAL chief
executive) and I meet monthly to discuss
issues concerning SAL members and it is
good to hear what is working well, and
what users like about the system, as well
as that which we can improve upon.
“From the estimated £75m deposits
held by the schemes, SafeDeposits holds
£41m, and this figure is increasing every
day. We are, of course, delighted with
our success in capturing the market,
and have taken on additional resources
(and are continuing to do so) in order
to maintain and improve the service we
provide.”
The SAL policy team is grateful to
~~
the members who responded to
the tenancy deposits survey and we
appreciate any further feedback with
this or future surveys. 
Tenancy
Deposits
Schemes
U
nder the Tenancy
Deposits Scheme
(Scotland) Regulations
2011, landlords and
agents in receipt of a tenancy
deposit are obligated to transfer
the deposit to an approved tenancy
deposit protection scheme, such
as SafeDeposits Scotland.
SafeDeposits recognises that this
is a significant change for landlords
and agents and wishes to make
the process as simple as possible.
The Five Steps to SafeDeposits
are designed to guide landlords
and agents through the process of
transferring deposits, to ensure that
they are complying fully with
the Regulations.
You must first register as a
user with SafeDeposits. The
easy registration process can be
completed in minutes through
the SafeDeposits website.
Alternatively, SafeDeposits can send
a Registration form to you by post.
The next step is to add the details
for all of your tenancy deposits
to your user account. You can
complete this process by following
the step-by-step instructions
online. SafeDeposits can also send
Deposit Protection forms by post.
The deposit can be transferred to
SafeDeposits by BACS, debit
card or cheque.
After transferring a deposit
to SafeDeposits, it is essential to
provide the tenant(s) with key
information regarding the tenancy
and the deposit. SafeDeposits has
created a Prescribed Information
template to make this step as easy
as possible.
The landlord and tenant(s)
should discuss the deposit at
the tenancy before applying
to SafeDeposits for its return.
Repayment disputes can often be
avoided by both parties discussing if
any deductions may be made from
the deposit before making a claim.
At the end of the tenancy, the
landlord, agent or tenant can
submit a Proposal for Deposit
Repayment to SafeDeposits.
SafeDeposits will then send
this proposal to the other party
to the tenancy to seek their
agreement. The repayment will
be made within five working
days from SafeDeposits receiving
agreement from both parties.
If you wish to register with
SafeDeposits or require
further information, please visit
www.safedepositsscotland.com
Energy
efficiency
Green shoots of cost savings
Grants to landlords for improving and equipping property add up to seriously good price reductions
F
ormally launched on 28 January, the Green
Deal is an initiative backed by the UK and
Scottish governments to run UK-wide.
The aim is to make the housing stock more
energy efficient, save carbon emissions and
address fuel poverty.
There will be more information coming
out shortly on Green Deal and we’ll keep
members informed by email. You can also
find out more by calling the Energy Saving
Scotland advice centres on 0800 512 012.
The Green Deal process starts with a
visit to properties by an assessor, who will
ask questions about energy usage. Approved
Green Deal installers will then advise on
potential improvements, such as doubleglazing, insulation or new heating systems.
There are 45 improvements that can qualify
for the scheme.
Consumers – in most cases for rental
properties, this will be the tenant – will pay
for the improvements via a loan with the
repayments made through electricity bills for
up to 25 years.
The scheme premise is that the eventual
savings made by consumers will match the
loans taken out to make the improvements
but there will be no absolute guarantee of
this.
Green Deal finance is available to landlords
for rental properties and where a tenant pays
back the cost on their electricity bill, it has
been clarified by the Scottish Government
that this payment would not constitute a
“premium” (or “illegal fee”).
Landlords considering the Green Deal
scheme must use an accredited supplier.
These can be found at www.greendealorb.
co.uk where the number of approved
suppliers is expected to grow.
The Scottish Government has various
energy saving incentive schemes open for
business including the Green Appliance
scheme (see details, right) and the Green
Homes Cashback Scheme providing
landlords grants of up to £500 per property
for improvements such as insulation and new
boilers – go to www.energysavingtrust.org.
uk/scotland/GreenHomesCashback
The Small Business Loans Scheme is still
running for landlords to access interest free
loans of up to £100,000. All schemes above
had funds available as we went to print but
please check with the contacts listed for
updated information as funding is limited.
ÔÔ
Please let SAL know if you enquire
about or take up these incentives, equally
if you do not, why not? We are very keen
to have feedback from members on the
whole concept, the application process and
outcomes for you and your business:
[email protected]
The Landlord Green Appliance Scheme
The Scottish Government is offering private
sector landlords up to £500 towards replacing
old and inefficient appliances in their rented
properties. This covers: fridges, freezers,
fridge-freezers, washing machines, and
dishwashers.
The grant value varies depending on the
type of appliance and its energy rating, ranging
between £170.00 to £490.00 for different
appliances. For example, a fridge-freezer rated
A+++ can earn £400, and a washing machine
rated A++ will earn £170.
Grant value
Appliance
Energy rating Rebate
being replaced
of replacement
Fridge-freezerA+++
£400
Fridge-freezerA++
£340
Freezer A+++£450
Freezer A++£420
Fridge
A+++£490
Fridge A++£400
DishwasherA+++ £380
DishwasherA++
£280
Washing machine A+++
£290
Washing machine A++
£170
The energy ratings look like this on
appliances
A++
A+
A
B
C
D
E
A++
Energy
efficiency
Only one voucher is applicable per property
but you can apply for more than one
appliance, as long as they are different types.
This means that you can gain by combining
the different rebate values. The rebate covers
delivery and installation, but if you find a
supplier that includes these for free, you
can spend more of your rebate voucher on
appliances.
Examples of making it work Ð Bisset &
Steedman price information
As you may expect, the higher-rated appliances
can be very expensive, hence the high rebates
on them. However there are some ways to get
the most of your appliance rebate and get two
appliances with minimal outlay to yourself.
This will even allow you
to put some good quality
products into your rented
properties, with the
benefits that inevitably
brings.
Hotpoint Experience
WMEF963P freestanding
washing machine rated
A+++
Bosch Classix
KGV33VW31G 60cm
fridge-freezer rated
A++
Buying the Bosch A++
fridge-freezer with a
rebate value of up to
£340 and the Hotpoint
A+++washing
machine with a rebate
value of up to £290
then using your £500
rebate voucher for
both, you could see
yourself only having
to pay out about £190.
This is a great deal,
especially if you can
find somewhere with
free delivery and installation.
Blomberg GVN9483E fully integrated
dishwasher rated A++
Another saving example for you: buying the
same A+++ washing machine and a Blomberg
built-in A++ dishwasher could mean that you
pay only £240 which for these products is a
massive saving.
What happens
when you receive
the voucher?
You should
arrange for the
appliance to be
installed. Vouchers
are valid for 12
weeks so you have
time to shop around
to obtain the best
value for money.
Once the appliance is installed you should
then complete the voucher and send it, with
a copy of a receipted invoice and evidence
that the retailer has taken away the old
appliance.
Payment will be made within 25 working
days from receipt of the voucher, presuming
that all information received is correct. There
are terms and conditions for the scheme. SAL
members’ contacts are in the table below. 
ÔÔ
Examples and information kindly provided
by SAL advertiser Bisset and Steedman.
Members can email them on
[email protected] for
information or appliance solutions.
Energy Saving Scotland advice centre contacts are below or call main helpline 0800 512 012
Area
Highlands and Islands
ContactEmail
Dean Wigglesworth
[email protected]
Telephone
01463 259 700
North East Scotland
Kasia Bucsak
[email protected]
01224 253 918
South East Scotland
Kenneth Fraser
[email protected]
0131 555 7866
Strathclyde and Central Scotland
David Newitt
[email protected]
07508 038482
South West Scotland
Sandie Ross
[email protected]
01292 525525
isset and Steedman | Online Appliances - Integrated Appliances - Kitchen Appliances
10/02/2013 10:54
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26 |
Working for you in the Landlord Green Appliance Scheme
so contact us on 01875610310 or email at
Landlord Focus Spring 2013
[email protected]
|
Property
investment
Refurbishing
landlords’
investments
An investor and his mortgage
adviser got together to
set up a company that will
look after the whole process
of buying up sub-standard
properties and refurbishing
for the rental sector
W
ith some members growing
their portfolios but others
happier just to hold what they
have and consolidate, most agree times
are less certain for property investor
landlords.
There are bargains to be had, but
finance is not so easy to find. Long gone
are the buy-to-let boom golden times
and access to easy cash from willing
lenders. Creative ideas for property
investment are needed and SAL member
partnership Jeff Annal and Hugh Dowie
believe they have a winning formula in
their venture, Encore Property Solutions.
Landlord Focus was invited to Falkirk
to one of their “discovery days” to see
their business model at work and view
one of their property refurbishments in
progress.
Encore describes itself as a bespoke
property investment company.
Essentially it will take investors through
the process of buying one or more
run-down properties with potential,
refurbishing to either flip (sell on) or let
out. Their offer is to do all the leg-work
for investors who buy into the Encore
skills and experience in searching out
properties, negotiating with estate agents
and dealing with tradesmen.
They were keen to emphasise their
focus on minimising risk and making
clients’ money work harder. A far cry
from the mid-2000s buy-to-let model
of no money down and borrow more
as property values increase, the direct
opposite applies here.
Clients of Encore have to have
upfront cash to invest (starting budget
from £25,000, typically a pension lump
sum or inheritance) and the business
model for rentals is one of overpaying
on an interest-only mortgage to end
up with mortgage-free properties in
approximately 10 to 15 years from
purchase. The other option offered is to
build capital for clients through reselling
refurbished properties, bought at low
prices.
Hugh got to know Jeff through
using his services as a mortgage adviser
providing advice for the investment
properties he was buying and
refurbishing. They hit it off over their
shared passion for property investment
and the idea of offering knowledge,
contacts and buying power to a
handful of clients seemed like a natural
progression. They explain that they are
not looking to build a big company, they
just want to help people they like who
also share the passion.
Jeff ’s side of the business is the
financial package. He explains that his
aim is to make sure they help clients
move towards their goals using his
experience gained through working
in the financial service sector since
1992 and in building his own property
portfolio. Passionate about negotiating
deals on behalf of his clients, he gains
huge satisfaction from getting clients the
right deal.
Complementing this, Hugh is the
bricks and mortar man. Having bought
and refurbished property since the
1970s, his experience of what to look
for in potential properties is key to the
Encore deals. He knows that the place
to make the money in property is at
the buying stage and is in charge of
their tradesman team carrying out the
refurbishments to agreed budgets and
timescales. 
ÔÔ
Discovery days are free of charge
and anyone interested is invited to
attend and find out more Ð www.
encorepropertysolutions.com
Prospect Place bathroom pre-transformation
Jeff (left) and Hugh showing off the finished kitchen
Case study 1
Prospect Place, Falkirk
First-floor, one-bedroom flat, bought via an estate agent, in
need of extensive refurbishment. We decided to build into
the attic and convert the old toilet in the stair into a small
study. By doing this, we increased the floor space by 65 to
70%. It was an extensive refurb with an attic conversion,
new heating, two new bathrooms (one luxury), full rewire,
new doors and windows, new floor coverings (tiles in
bathrooms) full redecoration and feature gas fire in lounge.
The intention is to refinance up to 75% of the value and use
the capital to buy another property, building the portfolio.
Purchase price£26,500
Last sold for £52,000 May 06.
Next door for £65,000 July 09
Refurb costs£28,000
Post refurb valuation: £75,000-£80,000
Total cost:
£60,000 (includes all fees)
Selling profit
£15,000-£20,000
or rent
£450-£500 per month
Case study 2
Marionville Road, Edinburgh
Fourth-floor one-bedroom flat bought in need of extensive
refurbishment. Depending on strategy for the individual
client this is either a letting or a selling opportunity or
perhaps letting for five years and then selling to reinvest.
Purchase price£67,000
Last sold for £27,500 Dec 91. Next door for £129,400 Jan 08
Refurb costs£8,000
Post refurb valuation: £100,000-£110,000
Total cost:
£80,000 (includes all fees)
Selling profit£20,000-£35,000
or rent
£525 per month, to hold for medium term
Universal
credit
Welfare
policies
set
poser
LHA entitlement was large. For example
in the Lothians, the amount was cut from
£108 per week for a one bedroom to £68
per week for shared accommodation.
Options for those affected are to seek
alternative shared accommodation
or make other arrangements (staying
with other family members) or make a
homelessness application.
Statistical analysis from the Scottish
Government before the age change
illuminated the following key points. At
present we are not aware of up-to-date
analysis of the actual effects since the
change came about.
Of the around 7,500 single people
~~
aged 25 to 34 receiving housing
allowance in Scotland, an estimated
4,400 were expected to lose as a
consequence of the change.
The remaining 3,100 people in the
~~
age-group on LHA were at the time
already receiving only the shared
room rate of LHA.
The average loss for the 4,400 losers
~~
was predicted to be about £22 a week.
In 14 out of Scotland’s 32 local
~~
authority areas, with a combined total
of 1,720 losers from the measure, it
was thought the annual supply of
shared accommodation would have to
double to meet the additional needs of
those losing from the change.
The deeper effects of
government attempts to cut
the social security bill will
have a drastic effect on the
private rented sector
A
lot is reported in the media about
the impact that welfare reform
changes will have on council
tenants but little is said about changes
planned for the private rented sector.
For some time, private landlords
have had to cope with the difficulties
of managing tenancies where housing
benefit is paid direct to the tenants
and the cynical landlord might ask
why councils and housing associations
should not have to cope with the same
problem. Soon they will and as you can
imagine they are in uproar, but the UK
government is not for turning and keeps
emphasising the need to reduce the
welfare bill in its attempts to address the
country’s deficit.
Two changes with a direct impact on
private landlords are the raising of the
shared accommodation age restriction
from 25 to 35 years in January 2012 and
the universal credit (UC); a single benefit
payment aimed at encouraging claimants
to get off benefits and into work, due to
roll out from October 2013.
The Scottish Association of Landlords
(SAL) along with the RLA (Residential
Landlords Association), have successfully
lobbied the UK government to adopt
appropriate measures to ensure that if
tenants fail to pay their rent, payment
can be made direct to landlords. On
11 February, the Department for Work
and Pensions (DWP) announced its
plans to introduce “alternative payment
arrangements” in these cases, that is,
paying the housing allowance element of
UC direct to the landlord.
In brief, protections will be put in
place if the tenant:
Is currently in two or more months
~~
arrears with their rent;
Has been evicted for rent arrears and/
~~
or failed a tenancy within the last 12
months;
Is subject to or threatened with
~~
eviction and/or repossession.
In addition, provision will be put in
place for rent arrears to be deducted
from the tenant’s future UC payments
and paid direct to the landlord. This
will be welcomed by many landlords
wishing for reassurance when housing
benefit claimants. For more details on
the alternative payment arrangements,
log on to: www.dwp.gov.uk/docs/
personal-budgeting-support-guidance.
pdf
From January 2012, single people
without dependants aged 25-34
entitled to local housing allowance
(LHA) had their benefit restricted to
the amount paid for a room in shared
accommodation. This was phased in and
some tenants have been on a transition
system so the full impact is only coming
to light now.
In Scotland there are about 7,500
single people without dependants aged
25 to 34 receiving LHA. The reduction in
Major worries as
the social security
budget is cut
Some tenants
have been on
a transition
system
to shared
accommodation
so the full
impact is only
coming to light
now
The DWP estimated that there were high
numbers of people aged more
than 25 on LHA in shared
accommodation in all areas of Great
Britain. For Scotland as a whole there
were a little over 3,100 aged 25 and over
and around 2,800 aged under 25 in
shared accommodation.
It is notable that in Edinburgh the
ratio of those aged over 25 and aged
under 25 in shared accommodation
is much higher than in other areas of
Scotland (410 aged under 25 and 1,070
aged 25 and over).
This 2011 analysis suggested
that the supply of rooms in shared
accommodation was significantly
constrained in most parts of Scotland.
It is very important that an adequate
supply of this flexible form of
accommodation is maintained. In many
areas, the additional supply of shared
accommodation needed requires an
expansion of the supply, which is unlikely
to be met in the short term.
It also seems very likely that councils
with remote rural settlements and small
towns will face particular problems in
meeting the needs of the 230 or so losers
in these types of area. 
ÔÔ
We will continue to monitor
the situation and ask members to
contact the Scottish Association of
Landlords (SAL) with their experience
from all areas of Scotland policy@
Are you thinking about buying an investment property
in the Borders or reviewing your letting arrangements?
You need a professional service that offers local knowledge and
experience and with dedicated High Street ofces, property and lettings
specialists Hastings & Co, Solicitors and Borders Country Lets offer a joined
up service designed to meet your needs. We also offer advertising in the
Borders Property Guide, Rightmove and our in house website.
Call (01573) 225999 to arrange a FREE meeting with one of our solicitors
or arrange a portfolio health check and valuation with our letting team.
Legal Ofce (01573) 226999 • Kelso Property Shop (01573) 225999
Borders Country Lets (01573) 229887 • www.hastingslegal.co.uk
www.rentlocally.co.uk
Rent Locally provides Landlords a Letting only and
Property Management Service with a committed
team of experts. We can assist both new landlords and
experienced landlords on investments to advice with
legislation changes. All landlords have the option to
securely view and manage their properties online.
To find out more about our landlord services contact:
0845 519 7223 email us on: [email protected]
or [email protected]
The Better Letting People
ALL TRADES With Some Tender Loving Care…
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what they are… Our FREE home health check gives you a FREE report which will include a full list of impartial
recommended improvements and possible costs on all aspects of your property, interior and exterior.
From Decorative improvements• Kitchen and bathroom improvements• Flooring suitability and
improvements• Electrical improvements• Heating improvements• Energy efficient appliance improvements
Contact us today on 01875 619500 or at [email protected]
We won’t give you recommendations that aren’t necessary
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www.market-prepare.co.uk
PROPERTIES IN EDINBURGH WANTED
Can you make your empty property a home?
The Scottish Government’s £2 million Empty Homes Loans Fund
- launched July 2012 - aims to bring empty homes back into use as affordable housing.
Link has secured, with support from the City of Edinburgh Council, £750,000 to set up the
Edinburgh Empty Homes Loan Initiative to help bring up to 70 empty homes back into use.
If you have a property which has been empty for six months or more, Link can provide an interest free loan
of up to £15,000 (to be paid back over a minimum of five years) to bring it back to a lettable standard.
The property would then be rented as an intermediate rent property by Link2Let*
For more information please call 0131 624 7843
Do you own good quality one and two bedroom homes?
Link PSL* need new properties to join the City of Edinburgh Council Private Sector Leasing scheme.
Properties must be fully furnished, have gas central heating and double glazing.
You can benefit from – no management fee, rent paid in full when the property is empty,
security of a three year lease with City of Edinburgh Council
To discuss your requirements please call 08451 550021
*Link2Let and Link PSL are trading names of Link Housing Association
Link Housing Association Ltd, 2c New Mart Road, Edinburgh, EH14 1RL
Company registration number SC216300
Member
agent profile
Benefits of a national network
With 12 offices from Elgin
to Kelso, CKD Galbraith
can bring together local
knowledge from all areas to
offer a countrywide service
to property owners
T
he choice between a small lettings
agency with good local knowledge
and a national firm offering wider
industry contacts is a decision landlords
often have to consider.
However, Scottish independent
consultancy CKD Galbraith brings those
two advantages together – with the
assistance of the Scottish Association of
Landlords.
The firm operates in 12 offices across
Scotland from Elgin and Inverness
in the north to Kelso, Galashiels and
Peebles in the south.
CKD Galbraith has a dedicated
lettings team in six of those offices,
and is well placed to provide a national
picture of the lettings market.
Bob Cherry, who oversees the lettings
staff in each office said: “As a
firm, we’ve never been busier and
we’re clearly delighted to have so many
landlords placing their trust in us.
The market remains strong and there
is a constant demand for quality
homes, especially affordable family
properties.
“The lettings market has obviously
enjoyed a boom over the past four to
five years but this has been accompanied
by a real push by CKD Galbraith to
make our mark in residential lettings.
“For the last decade CKD Galbraith
has continued to invest in residential
lettings expertise and we aim to
continue doing so for the foreseeable
future.”
In the last five years alone, the firm has
made a number of acquisitions, including
a merger acquisition with Donald’s of
Ayr and the purchase of Buccleuch John
Sale in the Borders.
An increase in the number of CKD
Galbraith offices offering a lettings
service has been accompanied by a
recruitment drive for lettings experts
with good knowledge of the local market.
Whilst it is often seen as a
predominantly rural consultancy,
the range of property that each CKD
Galbraith office handles is quite diverse.
Bob continues: “It is a huge advantage
that we can identify national trends
across the offices but each locale still
needs its own distinctive approach to the
market.
Inside and out:
CKD GalbraithÕs
Bob Cherry has
been recruiting
staff with strong
local knowledge
We can identify
national trends
but each
locale needs
its distinctive
approach to
the market
“In Inverness there is a huge demand
for rental properties of all sizes – we are
constantly finding a shortage of good
quality smaller properties coming on to
the market. We have also experienced
high demand for furnished, large family
homes. The town has one of the shortest
periods from market listing until rental
and we cannot get enough stock to fulfil
current demand.
“For Perth, the majority of the
property we let is in rural locations and
properties at up to £800 per calendar
month are particularly popular – it is
common to have several applications for
tenancy for one property.
“The central belt is covered by our
Stirling office based in the United
Auctions Agricultural Centre and from
there we also handle a wide range of
lettings from Glasgow right through to
West Lothian. There has been a spike in
the number of landlords requesting a full
management service for their properties
across the country and this has been
particularly prevalent at our Stirling
branch.
“Our Cupar office has also experienced
similar demand, with a 30% increase in
managed properties in the past year.
“In Galashiels, our office has a new
team in place and business is going
from strength to strength – according
to Rightmove we are now top agent in
the Borders area for new listings and
available stock.
“The Galashiels team has experienced
a very busy start to 2013. Properties are
being snapped up quickly and with the
new Borders railway project progressing,
we believe demand, especially for
furnished property, is likely to continue
to increase.
“The aim for CKD Galbraith in 2013
is to continue this positive lettings trend
– with a little assistance from the Scottish
Association of Landlords to help achieve
this goal.
“The strategy for this year, as always, is
to continue to provide landlords with a
quality service. One of the core successes
of our business is customer retention –
once a landlord has worked with us, we
aim to ensure they continue to use and
recommend our services – wherever their
property is located.
“Part of this is giving good value
for money to landlords – with new
legislation, there is now a greater
financial burden than ever on landlords
when preparing a property to let.
“We recognise this and work with
related regulatory bodies so that we
thoroughly understand new laws, in turn
ensuring landlords and their properties
comply with the latest legislation.
“Our internal training programmes
ensure our staff members are well
versed in the latest industry
developments but the training sessions
from Landlord Accreditation Scotland
and publications provided by the Scottish
Association of Landlords really help
to reaffirm our own understanding of
industry news.
“With so many changes occurring
in the lettings sector in such a short
space of time, it is of huge benefit to
our firm to have a voice such as SAL to
represent industry members and we hope
to continue to make our own positive
contribution to the organisation in the
months and years ahead.” 
ÔÔ
More information can be found at
www.ckdgalbraith.co.uk
Update
Cornerstone seeks
Aberdeen properties to let
S
AL member Cornerstone is
a long established Scottish
charity working with people
with learning disabilities. They
would like to hear from landlords
in the Aberdeen and Aberdeenshire
areas who might be interested
in renting accommodation to
people supported by the charity.
The charity has a number of
clients who would, with support,
be capable of successfully
maintaining a tenancy but the
number of available tenancies
via the conventional sources of
council or housing associations
Aviemore
Husky Race
Conference
photography
online
is meantime very restricted. The
charity rents properties across
Scotland as well as leasing several
HMOs from various agencies. The
charity would also be interested
to hear from anyone willing to
lease an entire HMO property
to it. Properties from one to five
bedrooms are of interest.
Some fantastic images from
our National Landlord
Day in November plus our
inaugural letting agent
conference in December
2012 are all available online
now. You’re most welcome to
download and use any that
you’d like to – it would be
great if you were able to give
the event a mention if you
use a picture.
ÔÔ
Please contact Caroline
Campbell, business support
manager via caroline.campbell@
cornerstone.org.uk or on 01224
256004 if you would like further
information.
ÔÔ
See www.
News section for the links
to the photos or email
us for links conference@
Venturing into Borders
S
AL member agent
Shelley BovingtonLawrence of the Property
Centre Scotland, in her other
life, was competing with
Team Karköpekleri (Turkish
for snow dogs) in the 30th
Aviemore Husky Race this
winter running the 4.2 miles
in 32 minutes. The team are:
front leader left, grey bitch
Chayda; front leader right,
black-and-white dog Viggo,
and wheel Hesh.
Diary date
National Landlord Day will
be on Tuesday 12 November.
Exhibition and sponsorship
bookings from June, delegate
bookings open mid-August.
Members will be emailed with
updates during the year.
Jan Borthwick (right) and Karen Crawford announce their new
partnership venture, blending their combined 25 years of experience
into Borders Property For Let. The company is the newest SAL member
agent in the Borders.
New supplier listings on SAL website
See www.scottishlandlords.com/
Suppliers.aspx for companies
in all sectors from letting agents
to sheriff officers, appliances
and furniture to insurance.
We’re always keen to hear from
companies seeking exposure to
Scottish landlord and letting
agents. Please contact us regarding
costs if you’d like to be listed.
All income from the website is
re-invested in member services.
English deposits
experience
The Dispute Service, one
of the English deposit
schemes, has published an
interesting report evaluating
the tenancy deposits regime
in England five years after
its introduction. Download
at www.thedisputeservice.
co.uk/resources/files/
EvaluationReportWeb.pdf

Telephone
0131 564 0100

Online
SAL branch events
T
raining sessions from our
sister organisation Landlord
Accreditation Scotland
(LAS) are taking place around
the country. SAL members can
attend core standards courses
free as a membership benefit and
other courses at discounted prices.
Booking is essential – see www.
landlordaccreditationscotland.
com
What’s the difference between
Branch area
Fife
Central
Highlands
Lanarkshire
Edinburgh & Lothians
Perth & Kinross
Angus
Dundee
Aberdeen
Lanarkshire
Borders
Aberdeen
Fife
Glasgow
Angus
Highlands
Ayrshire
Borders
Aberdeen
Perth & Kinross
Glasgow
Fife
Angus
Ayrshire
Dundee
Highlands
Lanarkshire
Perth & Kinross
a local branch meeting and a LAS
training session? Core standards
and best practice training events
are semi-formal group training
sessions delivered by LAS.
SAL local branch meetings are
informal events run by the Scottish
Association of Landlords for
members to meet each other,
discuss issues and concerns plus
occasionally hear from external
speakers.
Date 13/03/2013
14/03/2013
20/03/2013
28/03/2013
17/04/2013
23/04/2013
24/04/2013
30/04/2013
14/05/2013
16/05/2013
16/05/2013
21/05/2013
28/05/2013
28/05/2013
06/06/2013
11/06/2013
13/06/2013
18/06/2013
26/06/2013
02/09/2013
10/09/2013
10/09/2013
18/09/2013
19/09/2013
24/09/2013
01/10/2013
02/10/2013
02/10/2013
08/10/2013
28/11/2013
03/12/2013
Venue
St Andrews
Stirling
Inverness
Hamilton
Edinburgh
Perth
Forfar
Dundee
Edinburgh
Inverurie
Bothwell
Galashiels
Aberdeen
Kirkcaldy
Glasgow
Forfar
Inverness
Ayr
Edinburgh
Melrose
Aberdeen
Edinburgh
Perth
Glasgow Glenrothes
Forfar
Irvine
Dundee
Inverness
Hamilton
Perth
We know this can be confusing:
– please call or email SAL any time
if you’d like to find out more about
any events or training and we’d be
delighted to explain all about them.
Tel: 0131 564 0100 or email info@
SAL meetings are listed
below and updates appear
on www.scottishlandlords.
com. For training, visit www.
landlordaccreditationscotland.com
Event
Branch meeting
Branch lunch meeting
Branch meeting
Branch supper meeting
Branch meeting
Branch meeting
Branch meeting
Branch meeting
Branch meeting
Branch meeting
Branch meeting
Branch meeting
Branch meeting
Branch meeting
Branch meeting
Branch meeting
Branch meeting
Branch meeting
Branch meeting
Branch meeting
ÔÔ
SAL local branch events listed are correct at the time of going to print. Meetings run subject to demand
and while we aim to publish dates in advance, extra events are often added and sometimes planned
dates and venues have to be changed. Members are emailed when new dates are published.
Confirmed dates and bookings are online at www.scottishlandlords.com. Alternatively, email us,
[email protected], or call 0131 564 0100 for branch information.
New address
reminder
We’re still getting some member
post to our old Forth Street
address. Please can all members
send correspondence to our
new address which is:
Scottish Association of
Landlords (SAL)
Hopetoun Gate
8b McDonald Road
Edinburgh
EH7 4LZ
Tel: 0131 564 0100
Lettinglegal.com
support hub
launched by
Lettingweb
Created after legislative and
regulatory changes within
the private rental sector in
Scotland, Lettinglegal is
described by the partnership
of letting portal Lettingweb
and solicitors Lindsays as a
first port of call for any
questions. Steve Tigar,
managing director at
Lettingweb, said: “We hope
that our members see this free
additional service as real added
value.”
Tradeshare
SAL local branches continue
to develop their informal
lists of recommended trades
and services. These are lists
of companies and traders
as used and recommended
by fellow members in each
area. There are updated
lists available for Fife and
Aberdeen and more being
developed. Members
please email us on info@
if you would like to put
forward any companies or
individual trades you would
recommend in your area, or
to receive a copy of any of
the lists. 
BPFL
4 Marigold Drive
Galashiels
TD1 2LW
T: 01896 800700
E: enquiries@
bp4l.co.uk
Borders Property For Let Ltd has been set
up by Karen Crawford and Jan Borthwick
both of whom have long established links
to the residential lettings sector across the
Scottish Borders and beyond.Both have
been prominent within the residential
lettings business for many years and have
decided that the market place is ready for a
new and forward looking residential lettings
company.
Jan has 18 years experience in lettings
having successfully built up a portfolio of
several hundred properties with John Sale
Ltd. at their Bank Street office in Galashiels,
staying with the company for many years
and through many changes, rising to
the post of Associate Director whilst the
company was known as Buccleuch John Sale
Me
t
mber Agen
and until recently was Lettings Manager of
the Borders offices with their successor.
Karen has, for the last seven years, owned
and run a very successful lettings business
under the banner of BLMS Ltd, and prior to
then she worked alongside Jan at John Sale
Ltd and Buccleuch John Sale.
Having worked together so well in the past,
they have now decided that the time is
right for a joint venture enabling them to
offer a new and refreshing level of personal
and professional service. As they have
both had the experience of being landlords
themselves, and having both built up
successful businesses, they bring a wealth of
knowledge and personal experience to the
market place.
Landlords and Letting Agents – The solution to your property problems is just a phone call
away with Market Prepare! All Trades Property Solutions. We specifically meet the
needs of property professionals and take care of everything for you, so you don’t have to
Refurbishment
Renovation
Repairs
Safety
Certification
Reactive
Call-Outs
One call – one solution
Decoration
Cleaning
Free Home
Health
Appliances
Call us today on 01875 619500 or email us at [email protected]
We are offering FREE home health checks
to allow you to identify current and possible
future maintenance issues.
The FREE report you receive will include a
full list of recommended improvements and
possible costs.
Lets
with Pets
Jasmine
has
a pet
project
TV presenter and writer
Jasmine Harman is backing
a Dogs Trust scheme
to encourage landlords
and agencies to be more
animal-friendly
T
V personality and landlord Jasmine
Harman has joined forces with the
UK’s largest dog welfare charity
Dogs Trust and their Lets with Pets ‘Ask,
Advertise, Add’ campaign designed to help
stop pet owners being hounded out of the
rental property market.
With one in five homes predicted to
be privately rented by 20161, and almost
half the population owning a pet, it is
clear that the demand for pet friendly
homes is high. Yet Dogs Trust has found
that one in three pet owners2 still do not
manage to find rental homes with their
pets, despite the fact that more than 70%
of landlords say they would consider
accepting pets3.
The Lets with Pets scheme was set up
in 2009 to help the many pet owners
who struggle to find pet-friendly rented
homes. The scheme helps pet owners find
privately rented homes by working with
letting agencies and private landlords
to encourage them to consider pets in
their properties. It offers pet-owners the
chance to offer CVs and references for
their animals.
The “Ask, Advertise, Add” drive is
aimed specifically at letting agencies to
encourage them to ask if their landlords
are happy to take a “pets considered”
approach. It suggests they:
ASK all their landlords if they would
~~
consider pets;
ADVERTISE on their website which
~~
properties consider pets, and give
details of the properties;
1 According to a report from estate agency
Savills and property portal Rightmove
2 Dogs Trust survey 2011
3 Dogs Trust survey 2008
ADD a pet clause to their tenancy
~~
agreement when a pet has been
accepted.
Jasmine Harman says: “As a pet-friendly
landlord myself, I am delighted that
Dogs Trust is looking after the interests
of renters with pets. Times are tough
and people are finding it difficult to
get on the property ladder, so renting
is increasingly the only option. In my
experience, many landlords would
be happy to consider pets but letting
agencies have sometimes been slow to
pick up on this and some could do more
to find out if pets would be considered.”
With more and more people renting,
Dogs Trust is concerned that many may
be forced into an agonising decision
to give up their pet altogether. Susie
Jones, development and relationship
co-ordinator at Dogs Trust, says: “Dogs
Trust knows from experience that some
people will go to extraordinary lengths
not to be parted from their pets. People
have moved areas or rented larger homes
than they need simply to keep their pets
with them.
“We hope that the Lets with Pets 3As
campaign will encourage and support
more landlords and letting agencies
to take a ‘pets considered’ approach to
letting properties.”
Although it is illegal for a landlord
to unreasonably withhold permission
for a tenant to keep a pet (under the
Unfair Terms in Consumer Contracts
Regulations of 1999), SAL members
report mixed opinions.
Landlord Alex Buchanan reports only
good experiences and would be happy
to let to a pet owner again, explaining:
“I’ve had tenants with everything from
dogs, cats, hamsters, fish and even once
a boa constrictor and have faced no
problems at all. As long as I’m asked, I
see no reason to refuse. I do however
object to pets appearing in the property
Jasmine Harman
with Shadow,
dog-friendly as
a person and
pet-friendly as a
landlord
without my permission having not been
mentioned when the tenant viewed the
property. That’s only happened once,
however, so most tenants act responsibly.
The Dogs Trust campaign sounds good
to me and I wish them luck.”
However member Jane Simpson
disagreed, saying that her experience with
a dog in one of her properties had been a
nightmare – the dog was apparently left
alone for long periods and substantial
damage was done.
“I’m well aware that was not the dog’s
fault and the owner was a difficult tenant
in many other respects as well. I’ve been
reluctant to let to a dog owner again
but having read about the pet CV and
references idea, which would tell you
more about the individual pet, plus if a
tenant paid a larger pet deposit, then I’d
be persuaded to have another try.
“I’m a cat-lover myself so I do
understand how having a pet can make a
place feel like a proper home. Long-term
good tenants are good business for me so
I’m willing to be flexible.”
Scottish landlords considering this
should bear in mind that the legal
maximum deposit is the equivalent of
two months rent.
The Lets with Pets scheme aims to
make the process of privately renting
with pets easier for tenants, landlords and
letting agencies and encourages all who
are members of a professional body such
as the Scottish Association of Landlords
or Landlord Accreditation Scotland to
sign up as a Lets with Pets supporter. 
IÕve had tenants
with various
pets − once, a
boa constrictor.
As long as IÕm
asked, I see no
reason to refuse
ÔÔ
Supporters can access a range of
free resources to help them successfully
rent properties to pet owners including
advertising on the Lets with Pets
website www.letswithpets.org.uk and a
toolkit including information leaflets for
landlords and pet owners
ÔÔ
www.dogstrust.org.uk
Autumn 2012 | Landlord Focus | 35
Market
report
House price
rises outrun
rent increases
The Citylets Scottish Rental Index gives the lie to
talk of rent rip-offs and Scrooge-like landlords
T
he private rented sector (PRS)
has been growing in size and
significance over the last 10 years,
a fact which is now fully recognised by
legislators, housing policy formulators
and the mainstream media. With more
households in the PRS than the social
rented sector, it is no surprise that it has
become the focus of attention, though
it remains a concern that it is still the
brunt of much negative commentary
which emphasises so-called “rogue
landlords” and “rip-off rents” despite
scant objective evidence that they are a
problem in Scotland.
Citylets has been analysing the
trends in the Scottish rental market for
more than seven years and in that time
average rents have eased upwards, but
at a rate that is below both house price
inflation and general inflation. The
Citylets Scottish Rental Index (January
2006 = 100) peaked in October 2012
with a value of 114.8, which means
average rents rose by less than 15% in
that time while Scottish house prices
rose by 22%. What is often ignored
when discussing house prices and rent
levels is the impact of the steady drip of
background inflation which is measured
by the Consumer Price Index (CPI),
the preferred measure of inflation for
housing analysis. From January 2006
to December 2012, the CPI has risen
by 25% which means that over those
seven years average rents have become
comparatively more affordable than the
basket of goods and services that make
up the CPI.
Looking over the more recent threeyear period, rent levels have increased
by 8.4% while the CPI is up by 11.2%
which suggests that despite the
increased demand for rental property
rent levels are certainly not a rip-off as
some commentators wrongly assert.
The market appears to be operating
efficiently with better informed tenants
having a wider choice of property than
ever with realistic expectations for high
standards of property, maintenance
and service from increasingly
professional landlords and agents. We
believe some of this market efficiency
can be attributed to the improved
access to information and advice on the
internet. Visitors can view thousands of
rental properties within a few seconds
and those that are not competitively
priced simply are not let quickly.
The number of web visitors to Citylets
has increased steadily over the last
Dundee is
outshone on PRS
statistics by the
biggest cities
six years with traffic in January 2013
up 25% on last year. This indicates a
growing interest in rental property.
In the fourth quarter of 2012, the
average monthly rent in Scotland
reached £671, an increase of 2.3% on
the same period in 2011, while CPI was
up by 2.7%. National rental growth was
below the rate of inflation though there
were significantly higher rates of rent
increase in hotspots such as Aberdeen
(up 6.3% to £950) and Edinburgh (up
5.1% to £819).
The typical monthly cost for a
two-bed property in the Granite City is
now £884 while in Edinburgh the figure
Market
report
Time to Let in Scotland by Property Size (Q4 2009 - Q4 2012)
4 bed
3 bed
2 bed
1 bed
60
50
40
30
20
10
0
2009
Q4
2010
Q1
2010
Q2
2010
Q3
2010
Q4
2011
Q1
Trends in Scottish Rents
Q4 2008 - Q4 2012
2011
Q2
2011
Q3
2011
Q4
2012
Q1
2012
Q2
Aberdeen
Average All Scotland
Edinburgh
Glasgow
2012
Q3
2012
Q4
£950
£900
£850
£800
£750
£700
£650
£600
£550
2008 2009 2009 2009 2009 2010 2010 2010 2010 2011 2011 2011 2011 2012 2012 2012 2012
Q4
Q1
Q2
Q3
Q4
Q1
Q2
Q3
Q4
Q1
Q2
Q3
Q4
Q1
Q2
Q3
Q4
Proportion of all Scottish properties let by TTL period
Q4 2012
12%
15%
Trends in two-bed property rents
AverageGrowthAverageTTLChange
rent
Q4 11-
(days) Q4
Q4 11
Q4 2012
Q4 12
2012
Q4 12
Aberdeen£884 5.0%
15
-6
Dundee £528-2.6%
39
-1
Edinburgh£744 4.6%
26
-3
Glasgow £6303.1%
37
-2
is £844. Glasgow is more affordable
at £630 per month while a Dundee
two-bed property averages £528. The
average time to let (TTL) varies between
the cities with Aberdeen seeing two-bed
property renting in a very quick 15 days
while Dundee property is currently
taking 39 days to let. 
17%
1 week
47%
2 weeks
3 weeks
4 weeks
>4 weeks
Index2006
level (Jan
2006=100)
Rental Index v ONS House Price Index v ROS Index (Jan
=100)
Citylets Rental Index v ONS House Price Index v ROS Index (January 2006 - Dec 2012)
ONS Scottish House Price Index
ROS Index
Citylets Rental Index
135.0
130.0
125.0
120.0
115.0
110.0
105.0
100.0
95.0
Nov-12
Sep-12
Jun-12
May-12
Mar-12
Jan-12
Nov-11
Sep-11
Jul-11
May-11
Mar-11
Jan-11
Nov-10
Sep-10
Jul-10
May-10
Mar-10
Jan-10
Nov-09
Sep-09
Jul-09
May-09
Mar-09
jan-09
Nov-08
Sep-08
Jul-08
May-08
Mar-08
Jan-08
Nov-07
Sep-07
Jul-07
May-07
Mar-07
jan-07
Nov-06
Sep-06
Jul-06
May-06
Mar-06
Jan-06
ÔÔ
The Citylets Quarterly Report
is ScotlandÕs only detailed and
independent barometer of the rental
market, based on more than 60,000
annual lettings from more than 400
agents. For your copy, visit: www.
citylets.co.uk/reports
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Membership

Welcome to SAL
Stephen
peasnall
Chairman
Scotland’s
specialist
landlord
organisation
A
s chairman of the Scottish
Association of Landlords (SAL), I
welcome your interest in joining
our campaign to fight for the rights of
landlords throughout Scotland.
Our success so far as an association
stems from a group of landlords from
across Scotland getting together to
establish an organisation that truly
reflects the needs of landlords operating
in Scotland.
In 2001, recognising that Scotland
has its own legal system and devolved
parliament, we at SAL took on the
challenge of becoming Scotland’s
national landlords’ organisation. SAL
is the only grouping of landlords that
offers members a specialist Scottish
landlord legal advice helpline and
represents the interests of Scottish
landlords at central and local
government levels.
With branches throughout Scotland,
we offer you the opportunity to discuss
issues of common concern through
your local branch meetings and training
sessions, co-ordinated by your branch
representative. While our campaigning
successes are well documented, we still
have a lot of work to do. We need you to
help us by joining today.
ItÕs much more cost effective to come to SAL than try
to find a solicitor as knowledgeable on the legislation
as your advisers are. Great to know youÕre there in the
background keeping us right
Lynne Short, Graham & Sibbald, Dundee (corporate member)
Telephone
0131 564 0100
Landlord Focus
magazine – free
once you’re a
member
On becoming
a member,
you will
receive a free
subscription
to this
magazine,
Landlord Focus, which offers
news, views and features on a
variety of topics of interest to
landlords in Scotland.
Our policy and
parliamentary affairs
department ensures that
members’ views and
concerns are expressed at
the very highest levels of
government.
Members receive a
subscription to our email
messaging service, regular
updates on legislation and
details of events taking place
in their area – delivered
directly to their inbox.
The Magazine of The ScoTTiSh aSSociaTion of LandLordS
landlordfocus
issue 13| scottishlandlords.com
Motherwell:
much to offer
Focus on LanarkshireÕs letting prospects
+
Animal magic
A campaign is launched
to make life easier for
tenants with pets
Green is good
Grants for landlords taking
the energy-efficient route
In association with
 Welfare reform | Tenancy deposits | Property investment | Update | franchising
Learn about the wide range of benefits
M
Find us on facebook and
twitter @scotlandlord
Scottish Association
of Landlords
Hopetoun Gate
8b McDonald Road
Edinburgh
EH7 4LZ
[email protected]
embers can access our
free helpline and receive
e-news and Landlord Focus
magazine. SAL arranges a variety of
discounts and offers from companies
supplying goods and services
to landlords – find these in the
Suppliers section of our website. The
income from companies advertising
on the website is reinvested in
member services.
Information and training are
high on our agenda and members
can attend Landlord Accreditation
Scotland training courses in line
with the Scottish Core Standards
for Accredited Landlords and
Letting Agents (core standards) free
and other best practice courses at
discounted rates.
Whatever information you need
on residential letting, we can provide
it via our website or by email or post.
Unique free Scottish legal and
~~
landlord helpline
Free factsheets and letting
~~
documents
Member-only website resources
~~
Local branch meetings and
~~
seminars
Campaigning locally and
~~
nationally on your behalf
Member deals on goods and
~~
services
Landlord Focus magazine
~~
Regular email updates
~~
Annual National Landlord Day
~~
conference
Add your voice to SAL’s Holyrood
~~
and Westminster lobbying
Peace of mind
~~
Free core standards training –
~~
from Landlord Accreditation
Scotland
Discounts on other training
~~
Membership
The membership fee is
worth every
penny
Jim Allan,
Aberdeenshire
landlord member
Local and national events
S
AL organises branch meetings
throughout Scotland. Our 14
branches meet in major towns
and cities from Inverness to Dumfries,
offering support to landlords in urban
and rural Scotland. With members
from Shetland to Stranraer, landlords
can always benefit from membership,
wherever they live.
SAL events offer all landlords the
opportunity to network and attain
additional skills, regardless of how
many properties they own or how long
they have been in the business. National
Landlord Day is the largest gathering of
landlords in Scotland and offers unique
opportunities to hear from the leading
experts in the field of residential letting.
For members, all SAL events are offered
free or discounted.
Scotland’s only
legal advice
helpline for
landlords
O
nce you are a member, you can
be secure in the knowledge that if
you need free, unlimited advice,
you can call our landlord helpline,
staffed Monday to Friday, 9am to 5pm,
with evening surgeries available on
request.
SAL offers the only landlord legal
advice helpline dedicated to Scottish
housing law. This, combined with our
coveted landlord training programme,
delivered through our sister
organisation, Landlord Accreditation
Scotland, gives Scottish landlords a head
start in keeping up to date with new
legislation and good practice models.
The members-only area of our
website allows members to download
and adapt all the documents required
for their letting business and offers
many other handy resources.
With ever-changing legislation, can
you afford not to join? 
John Blackwood,
Chief Executive
TO JOIN, PLEASE FILL IN THIS FORM AND SEND IT WITH YOUR CHEQUE FOR THE FEE, PAYABLE TO SAL, to: Membership Department, SAL,
Hopetoun Gate, 8b McDonald Road, Edinburgh, EH7 4LZ. Alternatively, join online with your credit or debit card at www.scottishlandlords.com
Membership application form
Please use BLOCK CAPITALS
The following details will only be used
for the records of this association.
Title
Forename(s)
Surname
Company name (if any)
Address
Postcode
Local authority area(s) where properties are
located (optional)
Main telephone
Alternative telephone
I wish to become a member of the
Scottish Association of Landlords.
Please see our website for the code of
practice all members agree to abide by
(or call 0131 564 0100 for a copy).
Signed
Email
Date
How did you hear about SAL?
Individual membership £90 per annum.
Suitable for individuals, couples and families
at the same address and letting out only
properties owned by themselves.
Corporate membership £295 per annum.
Suitable for companies and organisations
letting properties owned by others, ie acting
as an agent.
Discounts available online for longer
membership periods.
Please call if you are in any doubt which
membership you require.
Please note that your SAL membership fee is
fully tax deductible.
For SAL office use:
Receipt
Database
Membership card
Bank
Membership number
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money on heating bills. With 20 years experience we have already helped
over a million homes. Contact us now quoting SAL to claim significant
discounts for landlords only, including a FREE home survey.
Lost income from your tenants
who move?
Lost money re-decorating your
properties?
Concerned about visit from
environmental health officer?
[
[
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Area focus:
Member
profile
Lanarkshire
Houses healthy, flats flatter
North and South Lanarkshire
are similar markets, SAL
members report, and the
talking point is that houses
are in much greater demand
than flats
W
hat comes under the catch-all
of “Lanarkshire” encompasses
the local authority areas of
North and South Lanarkshire.
SAL local branch representative Paul
Giusti’s opinion is: “Housing stock
in both areas is similar and there are
typically the same types of properties
available in both areas at any given
time. Rental values are closely matched
but with South Lanarkshire properties
normally marginally higher on a likefor-like basis. However I don’t believe
there is a fundamental divide.”
The rental market has seen a subtle
change over the last few years with
houses becoming much more sought
after and flats staying on the market
for longer. Demand is high but there
is an over-supply of flatted dwellings
due to recent modern apartment
developments.
Family homes are proving very
popular in both north and south and
rent easily. Credit restraints and higher
deposit levels now required by most
lenders may be the reason for this recent
trend, confirmed by member agent
Joanna Daly of Joanna Daly Properties.
Another trend is towards more rural
areas with improved transport links to
Glasgow and Edinburgh making the
area an increasingly popular choice with
renters.
Member agent Lanarkshire Letting’s
Chris Daly reports no seasonal market
trends with peaks and troughs in
demand throughout the year. However
member agents Janice Ross of Priority
Properties and Anne Fitton from Remax
Clydesdale report a significant increase
from December to February.
Chris highlights demand hotspots in
North Lanarkshire as Motherwell and
Wishaw while Joanna rates Airdrie and
Coatbridge, and landlord member Allan
Thornton finds it a stable market with
long-term lets.
Member agent Lorri Robb from
The Property Store agrees with Chris,
rating East Kilbride in the south, with
Chris adding Hamilton and Bothwell as
contenders.
Member landlord Allan Frame agrees
about Hamilton but qualifies this as
specific to property type. Two-bed flats,
he says are not achieving the asking price
but houses are flying off the market with
strong competition from tenants.
Lanark, Carluke and Biggar plus
rural properties in the surrounding
countryside fare well, says Anne, while
Larkhall, Stonehouse and Lesmahagow
were highlighted by member agent
Steven Rollo from LetLink Property
Management Services. Chris finds
Chapelhall and Airdrie in the north
and Larkhall and Blantyre in the south
less in demand, explaining: “Good
quality family homes will always do well
throughout the Lanarkshire area but
flats suffer to a certain degree, as there is
too much choice.”
If you are buying more property,
Lorri, Allan Frame, Chris and Janice all
agree that houses are the way forward.
Demand is high; they rent quickly and
achieve advertised rates.
Member landlord Colin Ritchie
reports house prices are still low with
no sign of a price boom. Airdrie was
suggested by Allan Thornton and
Joanna who commented: “Now is the
time to buy as there are good deals,
and with the train line from Airdrie
opening up to Edinburgh, this town is
now directly linked to both Glasgow and
Edinburgh.”
Lorri is reasonably optimistic about
the future and feels: “Demand will go
up due to credit limitations and supply
leveling off with accidental landlords
who flooded the market in recent years
biting the bullet and trying to sell.” Janice
says demand will remain if landlords are
“realistic about rent achievable.”
Joanna feels that rural demand will
increase as the cost of living is lower
and transport links are improving and
member Helen Mitchell adds that
“rural property can offer the “ideal”
affordable property in a good area with
good transport links.”
New Lanark is
one of the great
tourist draws in
an attractively
rural area
At a glance
ÔÔ
One-bed properties £250
Ð £425 per calendar month.
ÔÔ
Two-beds £350 Ð £625.
ÔÔ
Flats or houses? Houses
renting best for the higher
yields.
ÔÔ
Three and four bedroom
properties or bigger Ð
vast price range. Ex-local
authority properties as low
as £450. Large private
family homes in sought after
areas £1,000+.
ÔÔ
North-south divide?
Members report rent levels
slightly higher in the south
but only about £25 per
month of a difference.
Joanna predicts a general change in
the rental market attitude becoming:
“more in line with Europe and
people will accept that they will rent
throughout their working life and will
not aim to purchase a property to pass
on as an inheritance.” Colin doesn’t see
property prices increasing Ð he even
suggests a possible decrease.
Paul thinks the area “should be
well placed to continue to be popular
for investors, landlords and tenants
with excellent travel links by road or
public transport, making it an ideal
destination for people who commute.”
Chris and Steven feel the
implementation of universal credit will
have a negative impact; with a change
of tactics from landlords and fewer
renting to local housing allowance
tenants. 
ÔÔ
Letting in Lanarkshire? Do you agree
with our contributors or have you another
side to the story? Let us know via
[email protected]
We bring the pieces of your
house move together
Free no obligation market valuation
Free 6 month secure rent guarantee on new properties
Free online marketing to maximise property exposure
No let - no fee agreement as standard
No upfront costs
Unlimited access to dedicated property team
We are the most established local property letting agency in
Lanarkshire and pride ourselves on delivering a professional and
personalised service for our landlords. A family run business for
over for over 12 years, our small but highly skilled team of staff will
take the stress out of letting your property with a tailored service
that works for you. Due to our unique structure up we are flexible
enough to cover a large area without compromising service.
So whether you have 1 property or 100 we can tailor our service
to suit you, call us today to find out how we can maximise your
investment on 01698 266 233 or email enquiries
@lanarkshireletting.co.uk quoting LETNOW13.
We are still selling and letting homes
in this challenging market, for FREE
advice and valuation, call us
Competitive Home & Life Insurance Quotes
www.joannadalyproperties.com
58 Whifflet Street
Coatbridge
Tel: 01236 421121
27 Stirling Street
Airdrie
Tel: 01236 747300
BUYING
SELLING
LETTING
Book
reviews
Read all about it – well, almost all
Maria Di Ponio finds that
books for prospective
landlords and tenants
can be helpful - except
when it comes to questions
of Scots law
A
property bible for our bedside
table – now wouldn’t that be nice.
A point of reference, guidance
and comfort at the end of another hard
day in the property-letting world. All
the info and answers you need to be
a professional landlord or agent in a
handy wee book. Is this possible I ask?
Unfortunately with the ever-changing
legislation in our industry, it is nigh on
impossible for any book to stay current.
That said, it would be nice to have
a general reference book for simple
answers to questions or to read a case
study scenario for dealing with certain
issues. With this in mind, I set off in
search of my property-letting bible. My
search for a uniquely Scottish book did
not take me far, so I expanded my search
to the UK and narrowed down my
choices to the most recently published
books.
The books I looked at were:
Which? Renting & Letting, by Kate
~~
Faulkner, latest edition revised and
updated, published January 2013 by
Which?.
Managing Residential Property, by
~~
David Watson, published in 2012 by
Straightforward Publishing.
Renting out your Property for
~~
Dummies, by Melanie Bien and
Robert Griswold, published in 2012 by
John Wiley & Sons.
All three books covered the following
areas:
Buying a property to rent – location,
~~
size, budgets, finance, yields, the
process of buying (see note about
Scotland) and much more.
Renting out a property – preparing
~~
a property for rent, marketing a
property, finding tenants, pros and
cons of using a letting agent or doing
it yourself.
The law – deposits, tenancy
~~
agreements (see note about Scotland),
documentation required in setting up
tenancies.
Managing your property –
~~
maintenance, dealing with tenants,
rights of tenants, safety requirements,
repairs etc.
Ending tenancies – documentation
~~
and process for legal action if required
(see note about Scotland), checking
out tenants, preparing your property
for re-let.
Money – property taxation – income
~~
tax and capital gains tax.
Which? Renting & Letting is an A5
handbook of just over 200 pages. It
covers the perspective of both landlord
and tenant which means neither angle is
covered in much depth, but it would be
a handy tool for any landlord, as seeing
things from the point of view of our
tenants is sometimes an area that we
can fall down in. Each section is concise
and informative and is a great general
point of reference. There are reminders
throughout that the documentation
Letting in
Scotland is an
entirely different
animal to letting
in England and
Wales
referred to applies only in England and
Wales and the text directs you to the
sections for Scotland and Northern
Ireland at the back. There are eight pages
dedicated to Scotland and this covers
rules, regulations, HMOs, legislation,
accreditation, tenants and tenancies,
albeit very briefly. It does not give
sufficient detail to equip you with the
information that you would require to
stay within the law in Scotland. It does,
however, clearly show that there is a
difference.
Managing Residential Property is also
an A5 handbook and has around 170
pages. Covering all the essential areas,
the book successfully gives the basic
information required. None of the
sections are covered in any great detail
but there is a handy summary at the end
of each chapter. This book again clearly
highlights that the documentation being
referred to throughout in relation to any
aspects of the law is applicable only to
England and Wales. A Scotland section
(five pages) at the back covers types of
tenancies and recovery of possession.
This section is short and sweet and
extensive further reading and research
of housing law in Scotland would be
strongly advised.
Renting out your Property for
Dummies, is the biggest and longest of
the three books and delves much deeper
into all the areas previously noted
plus other areas of consideration. This
book is ideal for someone considering
becoming a landlord and who has never
let a property.
A word of warning, and a huge
one – the book does not highlight that
housing legislation is entirely different
in Scotland and anyone who was not
aware of the difference would still not
know this after reading this book and
could well encounter difficulties without
further clarification or research.
That said, the book is written in a
light, easy-to-access format. Icons are
used throughout the book to label areas
that are “tips, reminders, true stories,
technical stuff and warnings.” The book
is easy and enjoyable to read and with
more than 350 pages it covers all the
main areas and more in greater depth.
Scotland note – letting in Scotland is
~~
an entirely different animal to letting
in England and Wales and these
books don’t adequately explain the
differences. Further investigation,
advice and research would be required
before embarking as a property
landlord in Scotland.
Light bedtime reading? Certainly
helped me to doze off a few times! 
Advertorial
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Furniture reuse stores help
landlords save money
W
hen a tenancy comes
to an end, most
landlords accept that
some investment is needed in
the property before it can be
re let. It is not uncommon for
furniture and appliances to
need to be replaced. Edinburgh
landlords are fortunate as the
city has a thriving reuse sector,
with charities such as EFI, the
Edinburgh Furniture Initiative,
supplying used furniture &
appliances, at a fraction of
the price of buying new. With
two stores in Canonmills and
Sighthill, EFI is already popular
with landlords looking to
refurnish properties with quality
furniture & appliances.
EFI’s customers can expect high
quality, a large choice and good
value with a shopping experience
similar to that found on the high
street. Matt Lopata, EFI Manager
says: “Our landlord customers
tell us that they want to keep
costs to a minimum but also
want to provide an attractive and
comfortable tenancy which will
attract long-term tenants.”
Buying from EFI means
more than just a cost-saving.
At EFI, all its income is used
to fund the work of the parent
charity Four Square which helps
individuals and families at risk of
homelessness. 
ÔÔ
Find out more about EFI shops,
donations service or the work of
Four Square at www.foursquare.
org.uk or call on 0131 557 7900.
All proceeds go towards the charity Four Square
Landlords - We
desperately need
your property for
Letting..... Take Route
66A to
peace of mind and
excellent service
Ask for Helena on 0131 561 8285 or
email [email protected]
REAM, THE MATRIX,
66A NEWHAVEN ROAD, EDINBURGH EH6 5QB
t: 0131 561 8285 w: reamltd.com
Helpdesk

Online
Costs can be
factored in
Q.
Costs and
charges
that can or
cannot be
passed on
Who to
to tenants
debit for
are among
credit checks
the most
Q.
common
helpline
topics we are
A.
asked about
at SAL
I am a letting agent. To
protect my landlord clients
one of our procedures for new
tenants is to carry out a credit
reference for them. Who should
be charged for this?
Under the Rent (Scotland)
Act 1984 and further
clarified in the Private Rented
Housing (Scotland) Act 2011,
One of my rental
properties is in a factored
development. Some of the
factor bills I think are more
correctly for the resident rather
than the owner. Can I pass on
any of the quarterly charges to
my tenant?
A.
Yes you could potentially
charge on to the tenant
amounts billed for stair cleaning
and garden maintenance so
long as these are covered in your
tenancy agreement. Elements
such as insurance or the factor
management fees cannot be
passed on to the tenant.
no charges other than rent and
deposit can be charged to the
tenant in order to grant a tenancy.
Therefore you can either charge
the cost to your landlord, or
incorporate all the costs of letting
into the rent charged to the
tenant. Charging to the tenant in
addition to rent and deposit
would be classed as an “illegal
premium.”
Access deposit for insurance excess
Q.
I have to claim on my
buildings insurance due to
damage in the property caused by
the tenant, who has admitted they
caused the damage. Am I entitled
to claim the policy excess from the
tenant’s deposit?
Helpdesk queries:
Members who require advice
on any aspect of their letting
business, whether legal or
practical, have free access
to the SAL helpline on
0131 564 0100
Email:
[email protected]
Q.
A tenant of mine was
burgled at the weekend
and a spare set of house keys
was stolen. The tenant has had
the locks changed but who
should pay the locksmith?
A.
Usually the landlord
would be responsible
for this type of cost where the
tenant was not at fault, such as
in the case of a burglary. 
A.
Yes you could try to claim
this as a deposit deduction.
Bearing in mind any deposit
disputes are up to the arbitrator
of the tenancy deposit scheme you
use, the evidence you provide will
be key.
However, providing an insurance
excess is in your tenancy agreement
as a potential reason for making a
claim on the deposit this is likely to
Key question
on burglary
be allowed. The SAL model short
assured tenancy agreement has
a clause in relation to the tenant
being liable for excess on insurance
claims. It is always better to have a
contractual provision in the lease
to cover this.
Are you a first time landlord or
looking to expand your property
portfolio?
This is a great time to be investing in property,
but being a landlord can be a lot of hard work.
Even for experienced landlords, more
properties often mean more hassle, but there is
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With over 1,000 properties on our books and
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*Subject to standard terms and conditions | **True at time of print
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hire - Scottish Association of Landlords

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