Do you want your property managed by friendly humans?
We’re problem solvers. We’re all about anticipating and attacking potential situations before they arise and believe that by delivering a great, personal service to our landlords and tenants, life just runs more smoothly for everyone.
Property let, rent paid, maintenance dealt with – and all with as little drama as possible.
Book an appointment with us to get started
Here are our FAQ’s
A. There is a lot to learn about renting out a property and landlords have increasing legal responsibilities. Swift Letting is a company of experienced property managers and letting agents who will ensure that you and your property adhere with all letting regulations. We will take this weight off your shoulders, manage the property on your behalf and give you sound, professional advice. We ensure that the rent is paid on time, the tenants are properly vetted and deal with any maintenance and tenancy issues that may arise, day or night.
A. You are responsible for the following:
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Repairs to the structure and exterior of the property, heating and hot water installations, basins, sinks, baths, toilet installations, pipes and service supplies to the property
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The safety of gas and electricity installations and appliances
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The general safety and fire safety of furnishings and furniture that you provide
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Arranging and paying building and contents (yours) insurance.
A. It is necessary to inform:
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Your mortgage lender (if you have one)
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Your insurance provider
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The council (if your property is in Edinburgh, then register as a landlord with the City of Edinburgh council)
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The council, if you plan to rent your property out with an HMO license.
A. Tenants have a number of rights and responsibilities under law, which broadly include:
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Being honest and truthful in a tenancy application
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Paying a fair (market) rent
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Paying the rent as and when agreed
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In most cases paying the council tax and water/sewage charges, but if you pay these you can include the cost in the rent
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Bills for gas, electricity, broadband/satellite/ telephone and TV license if you make this clear to your tenant at the outset
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Taking proper care of the property.
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Arranging insurance for their own contents.
A. We use a Private Rented Tenancy (PRT) in accordance with the Housing (Scotland) Act 2016. This is an open-ended lease agreement meaning there is no minimum or maximum term.
The new PRT agreement allows give the Landlord the power to:
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Charge a market rent
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Refer a case for repossession more quickly where a tenant is in rent arrears
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Provide comprehensive and robust grounds for repossession that will allow you to regain possession in 18 specified circumstances
A. A short-term let is typically an agreement which lasts from several days to five months. The rent agreed includes bills such as council tax and utilities, so typically short term lets tend to be higher than the standard equivalent monthly rent for a six month short assured tenancy. The flexibility suits many businesses and holidaying tenants, and can present an attractive option to many landlords, as properties let out on such a basis often lower the burden of capital gains tax.
Edinburgh is a city with a particularly high non-permanent population. Being a financial and tourism hub, many thousands of visitors come into the city every month, requiring accommodation on a flexible and cost-effective basis.
A. You receive your money directly from Swift Letting. We receive the gross rental from the tenant, subtract our fees and then pay the net figure to you electronically via BACS transfer. The rent is always due on the 1st of every month, with tenants paying in advance by direct debit.
A. We primarily use City Lets, which has a consistently high success rate. We also have our own website and use social media to advertise our properties.
A. Yes. We carry out the first inspection on month three, and thereafter at six monthly intervals, giving you a written report each time. Inspections allow us to ensure that the property is being looked after correctly and allows the tenants to discuss any issues that they feel may be relevant. In general, inspections open up a great channel of communication between us and the tenants and allow us to maintain a presence throughout the tenancy.
A. As with our maintenance services, we are ideally positioned to deal with emergencies. Outside office hours, in the case of an emergency, tenants can call our office and will be directed to a mobile number which is answered 24/7. Dealing with an emergency call is never a problem.
A. It is the landlord’s responsibility to insure the building and arrange as much contents insurance as deemed adequate. It is a condition of the lease that tenants arrange insurance for their own possessions and this cover also protects them against damages to the fabric of the property they rent.
We are also happy to offer Landlords competitive insurance terms under our block policy.
A. In a word – yes! Normally under the terms of your loan, you have restrictions with regard to letting your property and letting is most probably prohibited without permission. It is quite rare now for lenders to refuse permission. Generally they will give permission for a period of three years initially.
If you let without permission, the lender may have the right to repossess the property, evict the tenants and exposure you to legal action.
A. HMO stands for House in Multiple Occupancy and the term applies to properties which are let to three or more unrelated persons. For example a property which has three bedrooms and each bedroom is let to an individual or couple would constitute an HMO.
The main purpose of HMO legislation is to ensure that larger properties are correctly managed and maintained in a safe condition. The reality is that the procedure can, at times, be somewhat laborious and involve a great deal of paperwork and admin time. Swift Letting are specialists in dealing with HMO properties and will deal with all of the paperwork for you, ensure you have all the relevant certificates and the property complies with all regulations.
A. Landlord registration is compulsory and prior to marketing your property you need to register with the relevant local authority. Landlords can easily register online. Swift Letting is unable to rent out your property unless you are registered as a landlord, however we are more than happy to guide you through the process.
Please feel free to get in touch via email (info@swiftlettingedinburgh.com), call us (0131 556 5525) or fill in the contact form below.