Private Tenants

Deposits and Inventories

Once you have found a property to rent the landlord will normally ask for a deposit and provide you with an inventory list of all the items supplied with the property. This page will provide you with useful guidance on what to expect.

Deposit
Inventories
Deposit Guarantee Scheme

Deposit

Most private landlords ask new tenants to pay a deposit. A deposit gives the landlord some security against any loss or damage that you may cause to the property, any unpaid rent or unpaid bills when the tenant leaves.

Where you are required to give the landlord a deposit (or guarantee) then he should provide you with a receipt detailing on it what the deposit covers. The deposit should be returned within one month of the final information being available. By law (Housing (Scotland) Act 1988) the amount asked for must not be more than the equivalent of 2 months rent.

Remember - the deposit is your money and the landlord is holding it on trust. The money should be returned to you in full at the end of tenancy if there has been no loss or damage. The landlord should not deduct any money for normal wear and tear. If you feel the landlord has made any unreasonable deductions from your deposit then you should seek legal advice.

Inventories

When you move into a property then the landlord should provide an inventory detailing on it a list of the contents in the property and the condition of each. This should be checked and agreed by both you and your landlord, any changes that require to be made should be noted and again agreed between both parties. Any existing damage to the property should be clearly noted.

A well drawn up inventory that has been agreed by both you and your landlord will help avoid disputes later on. If you do not have the co-operation of your landlord, do the inventory yourself with an independent witness. Ask your witness to sign and date that it is a true record of the condition of the property. Hold onto the inventory until you have left the property and the deposit has been returned.