For tenants
Renting in Scotland, without the small print
Scottish tenants have stronger protections than anywhere else in the UK, and most people renting here don’t know the half of them. Here’s what you’re entitled to, and what you’ll never pay us.
Looking for a home?
Tell us what you need
Where you want to live, how many bedrooms, and roughly what you’re paying now. We’ll be in touch when something matches, before it’s advertised.
Free, and no mailing lists: we only get in touch about genuine matches.
Your rights
Six things every Scottish tenant should know
You pay no fees
Rent and a deposit. That is the complete list of what a Scottish letting agent can charge you. Referencing, credit checks, inventories, tenancy paperwork and viewing fees are all unlawful.
What to do if you were charged →Your deposit is protected
Capped at two months' rent, and lodged with an approved scheme within 30 working days. We use all three, SafeDeposits Scotland, Letting Protection Service Scotland or mydeposits Scotland, and you'll get the scheme and your reference in writing.
Deposit rights explained →Your tenancy has no end date
A Private Residential Tenancy runs until you end it or the landlord uses a statutory ground. There is no fixed term that expires, and no no-fault eviction in Scotland.
How a PRT works →You give 28 days' notice
In writing, at any point, with no minimum term to serve first and no penalty for leaving early, unless a longer period was agreed when you signed.
Ending your tenancy →The property must meet the Repairing Standard
Safe electrics with RCD protection, working heating, interlinked smoke and heat alarms, and CO detection. If it doesn't, you can apply to the First-tier Tribunal.
Report a repair →Rent rises are limited
Once in any twelve-month period, with at least three months' notice on the prescribed form. If you think an increase is unreasonable you can refer it for adjudication.
Rent increase rules →Applying
How the process works with us
Find a property and request a viewing. Viewings run seven days a week and we'll come back to you within one working day.
View the property with someone who knows it, not a contractor with a key.
Apply. We ask for proof of identity, proof of income and a previous landlord reference. There is no application fee.
Referencing. We assess affordability and take up references. If a guarantor is needed we'll tell you at this point, not later.
Sign the Private Residential Tenancy, pay the first month's rent and the deposit, and collect the keys.
Your deposit is lodged with an approved scheme within 30 working days and the scheme sends you its reference.
What you will pay
- First month’s rent
- In advance
- Tenancy deposit
- One month
- Referencing
- £0
- Inventory and check-in
- £0
- Tenancy paperwork
- £0
- Admin and renewal fees
- £0
If any Scottish letting agent asks you for a fee beyond rent and a refundable deposit, they are breaking the law and you can apply to the First-tier Tribunal to recover it, free of charge.
Council tax and water go to the council, not to us. The 2026-27 charges for every band in Edinburgh and the three Lothians are on one page.
Your rent can build your credit score
Renting with us? Report your rent payments to Experian, Equifax and TransUnion free through CreditLadder. Every on-time month counts toward your credit history, the way a mortgage would.
Set it up with CreditLadder →
No fees. Ever. It has been the law in Scotland since 2012.
Guides
Read before you sign
The Private Residential Tenancy explained
Every Scottish tenancy since December 2017 is a Private Residential Tenancy: no end date, no fixed term, 18 grounds for eviction. How it works.
6 min read →
The First-tier Tribunal: how a case runs and what it costs
Applying to the Housing and Property Chamber is free. What the Tribunal decides, the stages from form to order, and where the costs fall for each side.
11 min read →
Tenancy deposits in Scotland: your rights
Lodged within 30 working days, capped at two months' rent, never used for fair wear and tear: your deposit rights in Scotland, and how to challenge.
5 min read →
Why you should never pay a letting agent fee in Scotland
Tenant fees are illegal in Scotland: not capped, not limited, illegal. If you have been charged one, you can recover it through the Tribunal for free.
4 min read →
Questions
Tenant FAQs
- Do I have to pay a holding deposit in Scotland?
- No. Any payment other than rent and a refundable tenancy deposit is a premium, and premiums are unlawful in Scotland. That includes holding deposits and non-refundable reservation fees.
- How much deposit will I have to pay?
- By law a tenancy deposit in Scotland cannot exceed two months' rent. We take one month. It is lodged with an approved tenancy deposit scheme within 30 working days and returned at the end of the tenancy less any agreed deductions.
- Can I be evicted without a reason?
- No. Scotland has no no-fault eviction. Your landlord must serve a Notice to Leave citing one of the statutory eviction grounds, and if you do not leave they must apply to the First-tier Tribunal for an eviction order.
- What if I have a guarantor?
- A guarantor agreement is common where affordability or credit history is tight, particularly for students. You cannot be charged a fee for setting one up.
- Can I keep a pet?
- It depends on the property and the landlord. Properties where pets will be considered are labelled as such in our listings. Ask before you apply rather than after.