Private renting
Information on how to find privately rented housing including advice and support for existing private tenants.
Renting privately can be expensive, and landlords and lettings agents can decide who they wish to rent to. Properties are often available quickly however, and are often located in areas of higher demand. If you're unsure about the process of renting privately, our Housing Options Advisors can help.
It's important to note that East Renfrewshire Council does not recommend any particular landlord or letting agency. The information below represents a selection of registered private landlords or letting agencies with properties in East Renfrewshire. No guarantees or recommendations are given by the Council regarding the landlords, letting agencies, or any properties offered thereby and the option of renting privately is undertaken entirely at your own risk.
When looking for privately rented accommodation, a useful starting point is to check with local letting or estate agents. Some of the main letting agents offering properties in East Renfrewshire include:
| Name of letting Agent | Telephone number |
|---|---|
Barrhead Property Centre | 0141 880 7770 |
0141 632 4229 | |
0141 638 5807 | |
0141 212 7033 | |
0141 227 2700 | |
0141 333 1345 | |
0141 553 2677 | |
0141 846 3241 | |
0141 251 0350 | |
0141 943 1110 | |
0141 620 0000 |
There are also many websites which advertise properties to rent in East Renfrewshire. These include:
East Renfrewshire Citizens Advice Bureau also operates a housing advice service and the Rent Deposit Scheme, they've good links with the private landlords in the local area. Contact them at 216 Main Street, Barrhead, G78 1SN or by telephone at 0141 881 2032.
For tenancies commencing prior to 1 December 2017, a private landlord is required to provided a Tenant Information Pack to new tenants. This provides important information to tenants who rent their homes privately.
A new Private Residential Tenancy came into force on 1 December 2017, replacing the assured and short assured tenancy agreements for all new tenancies.
The new tenancy, which must be used for all new tenancies created on or after 1 December 2017:
is open-ended, which means a landlord will no longer be able to ask a tenant to leave simply because the fixed term has ended
provides more predictable rents and protection for tenants against excessive rent increases
includes the ability to introduce local rent caps for rent pressure areas
provides comprehensive and robust grounds for repossession that will allow landlords to regain possession in 18 specified circumstances
It's the law that your landlord must give you all the written terms of your tenancy.
View or download the Private residential tenancies: tenants guide: Private residential tenancy: information for tenants
You may be entitled to claim Housing Benefit from the Council to help you with your rent. even if you're working and on a reasonable wage - contact the council's Housing Benefits Team (0141 577 3002) for more information.
In addition to a deposit (normally two months rent), landlords may also ask for up to six months rent in advance. Find out more about rent deposits If you're having difficulty raising a deposit, you may be eligible for assistance from East Renfrewshire Citizens Advice Bureau (CAB) which operate the Rent Deposit Assistance Scheme in the area.
It may also be worth thinking about a house share with some friends. Not all landlords are keen on this but it's worth asking if they're willing to consider it. They may be happier if one of you takes full responsibility for collecting the rent.
Before you commit yourself to a private let, make sure you can afford the rent, or have confirmed what benefits you'll receive. You'll be committing yourself to renting from a private landlord in an open ended tenancy agreement. Even if you change your mind, you'll still be liable for the rent for at least 28 days once you have given your landlord notice to leave in writing.
You have a duty as the tenant of a private let to report the need for repairs to your landlord or letting agent. If your landlord is failing to carry out necessary repairs to your private tenancy, the Private Sector Housing Team can advise you on the Repairing Standard, which sets out the standards your tenancy must meet. The Private Sector Housing Team offers advice and assistance on a wide range of matters relating to private sector tenancies. This includes advice and information regarding private tenants' rights and private landlords' responsibilities if you live in privately rented accommodation.
The First-tier Tribunal for Scotland (Housing and Property Chamber) was formed to deal with determinations of rent or repair issues in private sector housing, as well as assistance in exercising a landlord's right of entry. It also provides relatively informal and flexible proceedings to help resolve issues that arise between homeowners and property factors.
From 1 December 2017, the Chamber began to receive more private rented cases via the transfer of jurisdiction from the Sheriff Courts of non-criminal matters arising from regulated, Part VII and assured tenancies (Housing (Scotland) Act 2014 refers).
The Chamber also receives applications for rent assessments, drawing up of terms, evictions and other non-criminal matters arising from the new Private Residential Tenancy (Private Housing (Tenancies) (Scotland) Act 2016 refers).
Prospective tenants should always look for the Landlord's registration number and detail of Energy Performance Certificates in any written adverts. Private landlords have a duty to provide this information. Always make sure you check this information on the Scottish Landlord Register.
