Online guide to private renting in Scotland gets funding boost from SafeDeposits Scotland

Dalkeith Road, Edinburgh - Image credit: Sandy Gemmill/Wikimedia Commons

An online guide to private renting in Scotland is to be given an overhaul after a funding award from the SafeDeposits Scotland Trust.

RentingScotland.org is an independent website for both tenants and landlords run by Shelter Scotland.

It promotes the Tenant Information Pack, checklist tools for landlords and guidance for both.

The award of £43,500 – the largest the trust has ever made – will be used to re-develop, update and host the website, which was originally sponsored by the Scottish Government.

SafeDeposits Scotland Trust is a grant-giving charity using profit from the SafeDeposits Scotland tenancy deposit scheme to promote education, training and best practice in Scotland’s private rented sector.

The site will also cover changes to private renting coming into force over the next year after the passing of the Private Housing (Tenancies) (Scotland) Act 2016, which include removal of ‘no fault’ evictions when a tenancy comes to an end.

Adam Lang, Head of Communications and Policy at Shelter Scotland, said: “We think the revamped RentingScotland website will become an invaluable resource to tenants and landlords especially in light of the significant changes coming up to private renting law – in particular the new private tenancy agreement.

“Providing impartial, accurate and up-to-date information will help tenants and landlords know their rights and responsibilities which in turn should ensure a smooth and successful tenancy.

“We thank SafeDeposits Scotland Trust for their support to help us redevelop and run RentingScotland.org at this vital point in time for Scotland’s private rented sector.”

SafeDeposits Scotland Trust Chairman John Duff added: “The legislative changes will touch everyone in the private rented sector, from landlords and agents to tenants and housing providers and having an up-to-date, comprehensive resource such as rentingscotland.org is vital.

“By funding the overhaul of the website, the SafeDeposits Scotland Trust is proactively improving education and knowledge, superbly fulfilling our central aims.

“The grant that we are giving will allow the well-used and authoritative website to maintain its high standards and to continue to advance the sector.”