Lots of terminology to deal with while renting or managing rented property? At SafeDeposits Scotland we work hard to make deposit protection the easiest part of the process. In this A-Z series we aim to put some of the key terminology, and other considerations, front and centre to help you along the way.
C is for Changes
It is completely natural that over time, particularly in longer tenancies, some things won’t stay the same. From people coming and going in the tenancy to alterations to the property itself, and even changes in documentation relevant to the tenancy, there are a few things that both tenants and landlords will need to keep in mind.
In a joint tenancy, when one or more tenants (but not all) leave, our tenant changeover function allows for a partial return of the outgoing tenant’s share of the deposit while the remaining tenant’s share continues to be protected. A tenant changeover can be completed simply on the SafeDeposits Scotland portal, instigated by either the landlord, letting agent or outgoing tenant.
Through the user portal, the tenant or landlord can also make other necessary changes involving their contact details, such as updating them to account for a change in email address or phone number. This is also where they will add bank details, or modify the bank details on there if necessary.
Tenants who wish to make changes to the property should always seek permission from the landlord first. Different landlords will have varying levels of acceptance when it comes to redecorating the property. For example, some landlords may be happy for redecoration to take place as long as the decor is returned to its original appearance when the tenancy ends, whereas there may be an instance where a landlord has used a specific style of wallpaper that is no longer sold and wishes for it not to be stripped or painted over. The proposed Housing (Scotland) Bill introduces some amendments to the ways in which redecoration is handled, in that landlords will not be able to refuse a tenant’s request to redecorate without good reason.
With further regards to the Housing (Scotland) Bill, it is also important that both tenants and landlords keep up to date with legislation that relates to housing. The current proposed Bill introduces other changes, like allowing tenants to make requests which cannot be unreasonably refused to keep a pet in the property, and in recent years we have seen the temporary rent and eviction freeze, along with new measures introduced to the Repairing Standard. Each party should ensure that they keep themselves informed about any legislative changes, as this could help prevent issues during and at the end of the tenancy.
Safe Deposits Scotland is a government approved tenancy deposit scheme for Scotland, and is the only scheme based in Scotland. We hold the deposit during the tenancy and return to the tenant at the end of the tenancy when the landlord or letting agent has agreed to repayment. We also provide an impartial adjudication service for tenants and landlords if they can’t come to an agreement.