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Legislation, Edinburgh, Landlords, Services, Tenants
Switching Letting Agents in Edinburgh: Advice for Landlords
Switching Letting Agents in Edinburgh: Advice for Landlords Are you a property landlord thinking of switching letting agents in Edinburgh? Read on for some top tips & advice from Cairn. Expensive maintenance charges. Substandard repairs. Poor communication. Late rent payments. And every time you call, it’s someone different on the other end of the line — and they don’t know you or your property. As a landlord, the last thing you need is a letting agent mismanaging your property. If the above sounds familiar, it could be time for a change. And despite some common misconceptions, switching letting agents is easier than you think. Moving Letting Agents in Edinburgh: Common Misconceptions Many landlords see changing letting agents as a hassle they can live without, so they stay loyal to an agency, even if they’re not meeting expectations. Others think they need to wait until the property is empty before switching, while some simply don’t see the point in moving. After all, a letting agent is a letting agent, right? Wrong. Let’s deal with these misconceptions, one by one: 1. “I have to wait until the end of the tenancy before changing agents.” This isn’t true. The Tenancy Agreement is between you (the landlord) and your tenant. The agency has been hired to manage your property — switching agents won’t impact the agreement. In fact, it’s often easier to change agents with a tenant in place, as it means the new agent can take over the management of the property without the additional need to advertise and place a new tenant. 2. “Every letting agent in the Capital is the same; there’s no point in switching.” Most letting agents provide similar services. However, the way in which these services are delivered can vary from one agent to the next. Think of it like having a favourite coffee shop, even though you can get a coffee almost anywhere. There’s more to it than simply getting what you asked for. Likewise, the very best letting agents in both Glasgow & Edinburgh are doing more than making sure rent is collected on time. They’re fully regulated, understand the legislation involved, prioritise quality customer service, and offer professional and reliable communication at all times. 3. “Moving to a new letting agent is more fuss than it’s worth.” Switching from an underperforming agent to one who values a strong working relationship and cares for your property and its tenants is absolutely worth the fuss — if it can even be considered “fuss” in the first place! In reality, there’s little you need to do in order to switch. Beyond giving your current agent written notice that you plan to leave, your new agent will handle everything on your behalf. Case in point… Switching Letting Agents in Edinburgh (It’s Easier Than You Think) At Cairn, we make switching simple. From liaising with your current agent to communicating with your tenant(s), we take care of every last detail, including: The acquisition of a detailed handover from your current agent. This will include information related to rent arrears, payment plans, planned maintenance, and outstanding tenant requests; The transfer and recording of the latest safety certificates; The transfer of all keys, up-to-date inventory, and the current lease agreement (if applicable); And the provision of a new point of contact and updated bank details for rent payments to your tenant(s). You are appointed a property manager so you are dealing with one point of contact. Our qualified and experienced property managers conduct audits on documents sent to us to ensure that all legal responsibilities are met and the landlords interests are protected. Cairn have branches in Portobello ( 0131 622 6215 ) & Edinburgh City ( 0131 346 4646 ). If you’re interested in changing letting agents in Edinburgh, visit our Getting Started page or contact our friendly team for more information.
Legislation, Landlords, Tenants
Legislation affecting BOTH Tenant and Landlord
Legislation affecting BOTH Tenant and Landlord It’s no surprise that the rental market has undergone yet MORE changes to legislation from 2017-2019 than ever before. If you don’t already know, The Private Residential Tenancy came into force on the 1st December 2017 and has brought about some big changes. The tenancy system establishes the […]
Legislation, Property Finance
Investors Face Higher Tax Rate for Second Homes and Buy-to-Let Properties in Scotland
Investors Face Higher Tax Rate for Second Homes and Buy-to-Let Properties in Scotland New LBTT Higher Tax Rate Applies From 1st April 2016 Investors in Scottish property are preparing to face tax rate increases for purchases of second homes and buy-to-lets. From April 1 this year, a higher rate of Land and Buildings Transaction […]
Legislation, Landlords
Immigration checks are coming – What do you need to know?
Immigration checks are coming – What do you need to know? Many landlords carry out checks as a matter of course but from February, in England, Right to Rent checks become a legal requirement. For most, background checks on new tenants are an expected part of the moving in process, but these are about to become law. […]
Legislation
New legislation: Landlords required to install smoke and carbon monoxide alarms
New legislation: Landlords required to install smoke and carbon monoxide alarms Housing Minister Brandon Lewis announced new measures in March to protect tenants. Regulations for landlords in England were to be brought into line with building regulations for new builds in the UK, and will require the installation of working smoke and carbon monoxide alarms […]
Legislation
Changes to Scottish Repairing Standard statutory regulations
Changes to Scottish Repairing Standard statutory regulations Over the next two years, beginning on December 1st this year, new mandatory electrical checks come into force for all privately rented properties. New regulations from the Scottish Government mean that all electrical items in a rented property must be either Electrical Installation Condition Report or Portable Appliance […]
Legislation, Investment
How to invest in property for your children, and pay no Capital Gains Tax
How to invest in property for your children, and pay no Capital Gains Tax If you are interested in buying property for your child, but are concerned about the expense, there are ways to reduce costs. There is an opportunity to invest your money through a trust, rather than buying privately, which means you won’t be […]
Legislation
Working From Home: What Should You Know?
Working From Home: What Should You Know? Businesses seeking to reduce overheads and flexible working mean more staff are choosing to work some or all of their week from home. Combined with rising self employment the number of people working from home has risen considerably in recent years. The advantages of home working, both for […]
Legislation
Landlord services and Eviction – What you should know
Landlord services and Eviction – What you should know As every landlord understands the ideal relationship with tenants includes clear communication and timeous action on both sides to maintain the satisfaction of all parties. However, should one party deviate, that relationship can become strained. Fortunately both parties are protected by legislation designed to ensure that […]