If you are private renting or thinking about it, we recommend that you find out about all your rights and responsibilities. This has only been a summary of the information you should know. Other sources of information are:
Shelter Scotland’s website has a lot of very useful information and advice on private renting including the rights the law gives, regardless of what the tenancy agreement says. Their website also has;
- A checklist of information to remember / ask if you are looking to rent;
- An inventory so that you can keep a record of property’s condition when you move in. This might help with your deposit when you leave.
- A rent book so that you can keep check of the rent you pay.
Website: http://scotland.shelter.org.uk
Scottish Government
Private Tenants Guide - HomePoint publish a free 3 page guide for tenants in the private rented sector (HomePoint 32 - Private Tenants Guide). Copies are available from this link: www.homepoint.communitiesscotland.gov.uk
There is also a full 40 page guide for private tenants that can be ordered free from the Scottish Government - phone 0131 313 0044 or order by e-mail - homepoint@communitiesscotland.gov.uk
The Scottish Government website aims to give landlords and tenants the information they need to protect themselves and improve the standard of their housing. Tenants can access facts on what they can and can't expect from their landlord and information on issues such as what to do if the landlord refuses to carry out repairs or retains a deposit at the end of the tenancy. It also offers landlords information on topics such as leases, inventories, physical standards of the property and how to deal with problem tenants. There are links to leaflets and advice organisations.
http://www.scotland.gov.uk/Topics/Built-Environment/Housing/PrivateRenting
The Scottish Government has a number of leaflets and useful information for privately renting tenants and landlords including information on the rent registration service and how to check the maximum housing benefit level for a property.
Their leaflets (which can be printed off) include:
- Assured Tenancies in Scotland - Your Rights and Responsibilities: A Guide for Private Landlords and Tenants
- Private Sector Tenants Your Rights
- Private Sector Tenants Your Rights (Polish Version)
- Regulated Tenancies in Scotland-Your Rents, Rights and Responsibilities
- Letting a Room in Your House
- Rent Assessment Committees in Scotland: A Guide for Landlords and Tenants of Assured and Short Assured Tenancies
- Protection against illegal eviction and harassment for private rented sector tenants (in English and Polish)
- Private Renting: Information for Landlords
- The Private Rented Housing Panel – Website
The Private Rented Housing Panel (prhp) website has a lot of useful information on how Scottish tenants and landlords can resolve their differences.
www.prhpscotland.gov.uk
Citizen’s Advice Bureaux should be able give more information or answer any questions.
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