Bannatyne, Kirkwood, France have an unrivalled understanding of Scottish Tenancy Law and give a wide range of tenancy advice on a daily basis. We provide a comprehensive legal service on all aspects of Private Sector tenancy management in Scotland, from setting up a tenancy agreement to terminating one. BKF regularly act for, private landlords, letting agents and rental guarantee insurers throughout Scotland. We also act for and provide support to the Association of Residential Letting Agents the UK’s largest representative body for lettings agents. Our lead partner Rory Cowan sits on the Private Rented Housing Panel and has been appointed to the new First-Tier Tribunal, the judicial body that will take over all civil functions of the sheriff courts in relation to private sector tenancies.

Private Landlords & Lettings Agents

Style Lettings Documents:  BKF give advice on the preparation and wording of different types of tenancy agreements and lettings documents.   Our team are able to advise on assured and short assured tenancies (SAT) as well as residential tenancies sitting out with the assured tenancy regime.  We have been instructed on behalf of various lettings software providers as well as the Association of Residential Letting Agents to prepare style leases and other lettings documents.

We also prepare bespoke terms of business to comply with current legislative requirements such as consumer protection legislation and the Letting Agent Code of Practice due to come into effect on 31st January 2018.

We have also provided advice on the ancillary documentation required to be served on tenants prior to the setting up of the leases.  This includes Form AT5s, Tenant Information Packs, Prior Notification of Grounds Notices and Tenancy Deposit Schemes prescribed information.

Tenancy management:  We regularly advise landlords on issues arising from all aspects of private tenancy management including antisocial behaviour, rent arrears and a landlord’s duty of repairs. We get involved at an early stage prior to the commencement of the tenancy. We guide private landlords and letting agents through the statutory obligations imposed upon them including landlord registration, the tenancy deposit scheme, energy performance certificates, licenses for HMOs, the Repairing Standard, and gas and electrical regulations.

We can also deal with licensing issues arising such as refusals to grant or revocations of landlord registration or HMO licences as well as tenant claims arising out of the Tenancy Deposit Scheme regulations.

Fixed Fees

We offer fixed fees services for provision of style documents, service of notices and court actions for recovery of possession or property and/or rent arrears.

Please ask us for details of these fixed fees.

We also offer fixed fee retainer agreements to letting agents to cover

• General legal support for lettings
• Style documentation including terms of business, lease styles and many others
• Regular updates of those styles
• Updates on legislative changes
• Bespoke training for staff.

Such retainer agreements can be tailored to your specific requirements. If you have an issue which you would like to discuss with us the please contact Rory Cowan.