Lets Talk With Citylets

Steven Cafferty from Deaf Action joins Lets Talk for episode 70 to discuss the barriers and challenges that hard of hearing and deaf people face when looking for a property to rent and then living in the property itself. Steven explains about Deaf Action’s new service, Safe and Sound, which is designed to help Scottish landlords and tenants. Steven also chats about his successful golf career and the worldwide championships he has won.

Episode 69 hears Founder and Director of Scarlett Land and Development, Will Scarlett, discuss the Build to Rent (BTR) movement in Scotland and the challenges it faces relative to the rest of the UK. Will shares his views on the opportunities for institutional investors in Scotland.

Episode 68 features Conservative MSP, Miles Briggs, discussing his views of the Cost of Living (Tenant Protection)(Scotland) Act 2022 and his concerns over the counterproductive and damaging effects it could have on tenants in the long run. Briggs talks about the ramifications the Act has on investment for Scottish rented housing and also future supply.

Episode 67 features Scottish Land and Estates’, Policy Advisor for Rural Property, Anna Gardiner. Anna discusses the challenges of rural private rented tenancies and the concerns of recent emergency tenant protection legislation on rural housing, including landlord affordability, energy efficiency, empty homes and potential long term effects on tenants themselves.

Episode 66 of Lets Talk features Chief Executive of the Scottish Association of Landlords, John Blackwood, and Head of Policy and Campaigns of Propertymark, Timothy Douglas, discussing the Cost of Living (Tenant Protection) (Scotland) Act 2022 which introduced a rent freeze in social and private rented housing and a moratorium on evictions. They also explain the recent changes to the Act that will come into force from April, as well as the petition that they have lodged to the Court of Session in Edinburgh in response to this legislation.

Episode 65 features Ross Macleod, Managing Director of West of Scotland based Macleod Letting. Ross chats about the history of his organisation and the recent revamp to their office. Ross also discusses the current rental market in Glasgow and gives valuable advice to landlords affected by the recent changes in legislation.

Episode 64 hears Matthew Bringloe, Service Manager for Aberdeen Cyrenians’ ‘Settled Homes for All’ initiative, talk about the empty homes crisis in Aberdeen and how they aim to get these homes back into use, to help support those in need as well as landlords.

Episode 63 features Business Development Director, Louis Daillencourt discussing Novoville’s Shared Repairs App, which the City of Edinburgh Council introduced to help owners of housing blocks deal with shared repairs. Described as a ‘game changer’, the app integrates all aspects of the repairs process benefiting owners and property professionals too.

Managing Director of Grant Fairbairn Property Leasing joins Lets Talk for episode 62 to share his views on the recent Scottish Government announcement on the rent freeze for existing tenancies and the moratorium on evictions. Grant also discusses the housing crisis including the Glasgow student market, and speaks about his recent office relocation to Edinburgh.

Portfolio landlord, Fred Lawson joins Lets Talk for episode 61 to discuss how he built a property portfolio in his 70’s. Owning long and short-term let properties in Edinburgh and East Lothian, Fred offers helpful advice to existing landlords and those considering investing in property in current times.

Managing Director of Cullen Property, Steve Coyle joins Lets Talk for episode 60 to discuss the pro’s and con’s of letting out a property short term or long term. Steve also considers the new legislation for the licensing of all short term lets and shares his view on whether it will have any long term effects on the private residential lettings market.

Episode 59 features Steve Cox, Account Executive at Alan Boswell Group. Steve discusses important factors regarding landlord insurance and common mistakes landlords make when arranging their cover. Steve also talks about insurance for tenants.

Episode 58 features director and owner of Gas Care Domestic Ltd, Sean Harper, sharing advice and information on full compliancy for buy to let properties in Scotland.

Episode 57 hears Nicki Wise, a professional who lives with her husband and their youngest child in Edinburgh, share her experience of renting as a family in Scotland and her views of current rent levels, SNP and the Green’s proposed ‘New Deal for Tenants‘ and the main focal points of the ‘Rented Sector Strategy’.

Portolio’s Chris Wood and Ross MacDonald feature on Episode 56 of Citylets Lets Talk and provide an update on the market and offer advice on achieving a good price for a tenanted property. They describe the process from the tenant’s perspective and discuss portfolio sales too.

Episode 55 features Rory Cowan, partner at BKF & Co. Rory provides updates on Coronavirus legislation and discusses the proposals of the Coronavirus (Recovery and Reform) (Scotland) Bill 2022 currently going through parliament. Rory also discusses the proposed PRS rent controls within the Scottish Government and Green’s ‘New Deal for Tenants’ as well as offers advice to landlords experiencing rent arrears.

Managing Director of Dundee based Finlayson Gore, Eilidh Finlayson joins Lets Talk for episode 54 to share her views on the current Dundee rental market and legislative matters such as EPC requirements and the discretionary grounds for possession.

Episode 53 hears Director of Mill Architects, Richard Webb give advice on different styles of property conversions, from attic space to basements as well as commercial to residential.

Crew members from the only Scottish team in the 2021 Talisker Whisky Atlantic Challenge (sponsored by Citylets), describe in detail their experiences of rowing for 5 weeks unsupported across the Atlantic Ocean.

Associate and Conservation Architect with Mill Architects, Jo Parry-Geddes answers questions that are often asked by landlords regarding housing standards and repairs in the Private Rented Sector (PRS). Citylets Lets Talk is brought to you in association with ARLA Propertymark Scotland