We are looking for a temporary lettings administrator/viewing agent with experience in a letting environment to join our team in Glasgow.
The contract will initially be for a 5 month period however this may be extended or lead to a permanent position.
Please contact preet@happylets.co.uk for full vacancy details.
Taken from www.nfopp.co.uk (The National Federation of Property Professionals)
What do the regulations do?
The Tenancy Deposit Schemes (Scotland) Regulations 2011 became law on 7 March 2011. The regulations set out the framework for the approval of tenancy deposit schemes. This paves the way for potential scheme providers to develop and submit proposals for the operation of tenancy deposit schemes to Scottish Ministers for consideration.
What is a tenancy deposit scheme?
A tenancy deposit scheme is a scheme designed to protect tenants’ deposits by placing them with an independent third party.
Why introduce tenancy deposit schemes?
The main objectives of requiring deposits to be safeguarded by tenancy deposit schemes are:
· To end the practice of unfairly withholding deposits;
· To ensure that deposits are safeguarded throughout the duration of the tenancy;
· To ensure that deposits are returned quickly and fairly, particularly where there is a dispute over the return of the deposit, or proportion of it, to tenant or landlord.
What will tenancy deposit schemes look like?
When will tenancy deposit schemes be implemented?
Scottish Ministers are now able to consider proposals for the operation of tenancy deposit schemes, which they will assess against the conditions that are set out in the regulations.
Once any suitable proposals have been received and approved, details of the schemes and the dates on which they will be available for use will be announced in due course.
What will the regulations mean for landlords?
Once a tenancy deposit scheme is approved, any tenancy deposit accepted by a landlord must be deposited with an approved scheme within 30 working days of the commencement of a tenancy.
At the same time the landlord must ensure that key information is provided to the tenant, including details about the amount of the deposit and the location of the scheme where it is being held.
The deposit will then be kept by the scheme administrator in an account maintained for the purpose of holding tenancy deposits until they are repaid. The landlord must also provide proof of registration with the local authority when the deposit is paid over.
These duties relating to tenancy deposit regulations will not apply until an approved scheme is implemented.
Which landlords must comply with the regulations?
Every landlord that is required to register in the local authority register of landlords, in accordance with the Antisocial Behaviour etc. (Scotland) Act 2004 (landlord registration), will need to comply with the Tenancy Deposit Schemes (Scotland) Regulations 2011.
This includes landlords of assured and short assured tenancies, university accommodation, as well as various other types of occupancy arrangement.
When must deposits be protected?
This will vary, depending on when the deposit was received, and when the first scheme becomes operational.
All deposits received after a scheme first becomes operational must be submitted to an approved scheme, and information provided to tenants within 30 working days of the start of the tenancy.
Landlords already holding deposits before a scheme becomes operational must also protect deposits but will be allowed more time to submit them to an approved scheme.
What will the regulations mean for letting agents?
The duties in relation to tenancy deposits apply to landlords, as the person requiring the deposit. This does not mean that the landlord cannot employ an agent to act on his behalf to manage a tenancy, as they do now.
However, it will be in the interests of landlords who employ a letting agent to act on their behalf to satisfy themselves that the agent is acting in accordance with the regulations i.e. submitting deposits to an approved scheme and providing information to the tenant within the required timescales.
Any sanctions imposed as a result of an application by the tenant to a sheriff for non-compliance with the regulations, would apply to the landlord. The landlord may take action against the agent through the court if there has been a breach of contract, as is the case now.
Further information
Information about the regulations and tenancy deposit schemes can be found on the Scottish Government website at http://www.scotland.gov.uk/Topics/Built-Environment/Housing/privaterent
A copy of the Tenancy Deposit Schemes (Scotland) Regulations 2011 can be found on the UK legislation website at www.legislation.gov.uk.
Taken from www.nfopp.co.uk (The National Federation of Property Professionals)
What is a tenancy deposit scheme?
A tenancy deposit scheme is a scheme designed to protect tenants’ deposits by placing them with an independent third party.
Why introduce tenancy deposit schemes?
The main objectives of requiring deposits to be safeguarded by tenancy deposit schemes are:
· To end the practice of unfairly withholding deposits;
· To ensure that deposits are safeguarded throughout the duration of the tenancy;
· To ensure that deposits are returned quickly and fairly, particularly where there is a dispute over the return of the deposit, or proportion of it, to tenant or landlord
When will a tenancy deposit scheme be available?
On 7 March 2011, regulations to provide for tenancy deposit schemes in Scotland became law.
This means that Scottish Ministers are now able to consider proposals for the operation of tenancy deposit schemes, which they will assess against the conditions that are set out in the regulations.
Once any suitable proposals have been received and approved, details of the schemes and the dates on which they will be available for use will be announced in due course.
What will a tenancy deposit scheme mean for you?
Whose tenancy deposits will be protected?
Every landlord that is required to register in the local authority register of landlords, in accordance with the Antisocial Behaviour etc. (Scotland) Act 2004 (landlord registration), will need to comply with the Tenancy Deposit Schemes (Scotland) Regulations 2011.
This includes landlords of assured and short assured tenancies, university accommodation, as well as various other types of occupancy arrangement.
If you are unsure about whether your deposit should be protected you should independent advice.
When must deposits be protected?
This will vary, depending on when the deposit was received, and when the first scheme becomes operational.
All deposits received after a scheme first becomes operational must be submitted to an approved scheme, and information provided to tenants within 30 working days of the start of the tenancy.
Landlords already holding deposits before a scheme becomes operational must also protect deposits but will be allowed more time to submit them to an approved scheme.
Further information
More detailed information about the regulations and tenancy deposit schemes can be found on the Scottish Government website at
http://www.scotland.gov.uk/Topics/Built-Environment/Housing/privaterent
A copy of the Tenancy Deposit Schemes (Scotland) Regulations 2011 can be found on the UK legislation website at www.legislation.gov.uk.
We are delighted to announce that both Happy Lets offices in Glasgow and Hamilton have been shortlisted for the Estate and Letting Agent Awards 2011.
Taking part in the awards alone demonstrates our efforts to provide the highest level of service to our clients and we are therefore delighted to be shortlisted in the Scotland Letting Agent category.
Winners will be announced on 15th April 2011.
Are you looking for a job in letting?
We are currently looking for a lettings administrator/viewing agent to join our Happy Lets Team in Hamilton!
For full vacancy information please email preet@happylets.co.uk
On the 9th November 2010 the Scottish Government announced a Boiler Scrappage Scheme which will provide vouchers to landlords for £400 towards the replacement of the most inefficient boilers in rental properties.
Up to 750 landlords are expected to benefit on a first-come first-served basis from the 9 November 2010.
Landlords can apply for the voucher by calling the Home Energy Scotland Hotline on 0800 512 012.
For more information please see the following
There are many ways in which you can reduce and offset your carbon footprint and the impact your activities are having on our environment.
Some of the things you can do to immediately reduce your carbon footprint are:
For further information please visit www.carbonfootprint.com
From a spilt glass of wine to an iron mark on the carpet, accidents happen to the best of us. But if you are living in rented accommodation, your landlord can take the cost of repairs out of your deposit.
Your landlord’s own insurance won’t cover you if you accidentally damage their property, and it definitely won’t cover you if your own belongings are damaged or stolen from your home.
No matter how careful you are, it is possible for things to get damaged and sometimes through no fault of your own. A suitable insurance policy won’t just protect your belongings; it’ll keep your deposit in one piece too.
There are many policies on the market specifically designed for tenants. They cover the cost of replacing your own items, include cover against accidental damage to your landlords contents, fixtures and fittings, and therefore protect you against losing your deposit if your landlord’s property gets damaged.
For more information please contact our office and we can provide you with information on this cover.
There has been a huge increase in demand for privately rented apartments and we have successfully let 153 properties for our landlords in the past 3 months.
We are still faced with a huge demand from tenants looking to find their happy place and are in need of more landlords with properties to let.
The scheme, well known in the property industry as the ESTAS, measures the quality of customer service provided by agents through the home buying, selling and rental process.
Phil Spencer, presenter of Channel 4’s Location, Location property programme says “I think it says a great deal about company who’s prepared to stand up and announce to customers and competitors that they believe in providing the best possible service and they’re happy to prove it. These awards help agencies to focus on customer service levels and that’s why so many sign up each year”
“Any agent that signs up for the ESTAS is making a public pledge that they are focused on providing the best possible service to their clients whether they be buying , selling or renting through the agent” says Simon Brown, Managing Director of Awards For Business who run the national scheme. “Customers should always ask if they are an ESTA Agent, and if not why not?”
The national scheme is backed by the Royal Institute of Chartered Surveyors (RICS).
David Dalby, Residential Director at RICS, said “This is the sixth year that RICS have been involved with the awards, which we support because the results are based solely on customer satisfaction rather than the opinions of a judging panel.”
“To win an Estate or Letting Agent of the Year Award, a firm has to demonstrate a consistently high level of service and, to achieve this, they must ensure that staff follow those standards of efficiency, good communication and transparency that differentiate the exceptional agent from the ordinary one.”