We look after our tenant

As a prospective tenant we would recommend you deal with a reputable letting agent such as ourselves. As members of the Council of Letting Agents and The Property Ombudsman as well as The Scottish Letting Agent Register we are bound to treat tenants in a responsible and professional manner, observing their rights, just as we do when acting for our Landlord clients.

If you are considering letting a property through Independent Estates Lettings, you will find the following information helpful, it explains the processes at the beginning and end of your tenancy.

Starting a tenancy

• If you wish to proceed with an application you will be asked to pay the deposit for the property, this allows us to hold the property for you for up to four weeks before move in. On your move in this deposit will then be lodged with Safe deposits Scotland where it will be held until the end of your tenancy.
• You will be asked to complete an application form which provides us with checkable references for both your employment and previous or current letting agent.
• Before keys are released you will be asked to provide us with photographic ID.
• Subject to successful referencing you will be emailed a copy of the PRT (Private Residential Tenancy) the day before your move in. This gives you enough time to read through the document thoroughly in case you have any queries. When you are in agreement you email the signed (E Signature) document back to us and your agreement becomes valid.
• At this point you can come into the office and go through a couple of pieces of additional paperwork, pay your first month’s rent and pick up the keys to your new home. All payments at the office are taken in cash and a receipt is provided however if you are unable to bring cash you can pay by bank transfer as long as it has cleared into our account before we release keys.
• You will be asked to set up a standing order to pay your rent. The date the rent leaves your account needs to one day earlier than the due date, so that it arrives in our account on the due date, which is normally the day in the month your lease started.
• We will take meter readings and inform utility companies of the readings. We will also contact the relevant council tax office. You will be responsible for utilities and council tax from the day your lease starts.

Deposits What is Tenancy Deposit Protection?

Your deposit will be lodged by us with Safedeposits Scotland approved by the Scottish Executive, who will hold it in trust for you.

At the beginning of your tenancy you will have 7 days to note any issues with the property and email us. These will then be held in your file until your move out.

This will be referred to at the end of your tenancy at the exit inspection. The best way to ensure you receive your full deposit back is to ensure you return the property to us in the same condition it was in when your tenancy started.

It is essential you return all sets of keys at the exit inspection, or before if you are not going to be present.

We try hard to resolve any exit inspection issues and reach agreement between Landlords and Tenants as quickly as possible. Once agreement is reached we can authorise release of the deposit to you. If this is not possible you will also have the chance to dispute any claim made by the landlord directly with Safe-deposits.

Our residential letting agency services are provided through IE Lets Ltd, a partnership wholly associated with Independent Estates.

Lettings registration number: LARN1901037