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EXPERT ADVICE
Landlord Nicky Lloyd, Head of ESPC Lettings, answers the
FAQs most frequently asked questions from landlords. What are the legal requirements?
In Scotland it’s a criminal offence to rent Rental properties must have regular gas
your property without registering as a and electricity safety checks carried out.
landlord, and failure to do so could result
in fines of up to £50,000. You should place tenants’ deposits in
one of three Scottish Tenancy Deposit
Your home must have an Energy Schemes (TDS): Safe Deposit Scotland,
Performance Certificate (EPC). My Deposits Scotland, or Letting
Protection Service.
What are the best areas? According to data from ESPC’s House Price Reports
and the latest Citylets report, the most popular areas
Is the rental market busy? Absolutely. The average rental property now receives in Edinburgh to rent are Leith, Portobello, Trinity,
three times as many enquiries from prospective tenants and Gorgie.
than in 2019, demonstrating how strong demand is.
Demand massively outweighs supply across the market,
but especially in Edinburgh, so there’s lots of opportunity What about the future? As we head further into 2025, and uncertainty around
for potential landlords. the financial climate remains, it becomes harder to
predict how markets will perform.
What’s the most popular The most recent Citylets report found that one- However, the rental industry remains strong with more
property type to rent? bedroom properties are currently the most popular to tenants choosing to rent and rent levels consistently
rent in Edinburgh, renting in just 16 days.
increasing.
Should my property be It depends on your budget and the tenants you want to
offered furnished or attract. Furnished properties are attractive to students
who don’t have their own furniture, while unfurnished
unfurnished? generally appeals to those looking for a family home.
What tenant checks You should ensure the following checks are carried out:
should happen? • Credit rating
• Adverse credit check
• Affordability check
• Current landlord reference
• Employment reference ESPC Lettings is an Edinburgh letting agent. We provide expert advice on all aspects of being a landlord – contact the team today
by emailing landlord@espc.com or calling 0131 253 2847.
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