Renting in Lanarkshire

With our recent venture into the lettings market in 2023, we at Kirkland want to provide more options for those who wish to reside in Lanarkshire.

Renting an apartment or a home may be the best choice for you at this time, so let’s take a look at some of the common questions you may be asking about renting in this historic and charming county.

Why rent vs. buy a home?

There are many reasons why people choose to rent a home instead of buying one. Some of the most common reasons include:

Affordability & Less Upfront Costs: Renting is often more affordable than buying. The initial outlay of a renter will be roughly just two months’ rent.
Flexibility: Renting allows you to move more easily than if you own a home. This can be beneficial if you haven’t decided where you want to settle down long-term, or if you need to move for work or other reasons.
Less maintenance: Landlords are responsible for most maintenance and repairs, so you don’t have to worry about these. This can be a big advantage, especially if you don’t have the time or skills to do these things yourself.
Less responsibility: Owning a home comes with a lot of responsibility, such as paying property taxes and homeowners insurance. Renting frees you from these responsibilities.

Lanarkshire rental market overview

Proximity to Glasgow and Edinburgh and good transport links: Lanarkshire is located between Glasgow and Edinburgh, two of the largest cities in Scotland. This makes it a convenient place to live for people who work or study in either city. It has a good network of roads and railways and several bus companies operating in the area.
Relatively affordable housing costs: Rent prices in Lanarkshire are generally lower than in Glasgow and Edinburgh. This makes it a good option for people on a budget.
A variety of rental properties are available: The market in this region is known for its diversity, offering everything from urban apartments to rural cottages. This means that there is something to suit everyone’s needs and budget. Rental prices can vary significantly depending on factors like location, property size, and condition.

What is required to rent a property?

Typically, landlords will request the following:

Proof of income: To ensure you can afford the rent, you’ll need to provide evidence of your financial stability, such as payslips or bank statements.
References: Landlords often ask for references from previous landlords or employers to assess your suitability as a tenant.
Holding deposit: To reserve a property you are interested in renting. This can be up to one week’s rent and will be refunded at the start of your tenancy or if you decide not to pursue the tenancy.
Tenancy deposit: Expect to pay a security deposit, usually equivalent to five to six weeks’ rent, which the landlord can use for rent arrears or any damage to the property. This is refundable upon the end of the lease if the property is in good condition, and should be kept in a government-protected deposit scheme.
Rent in advance: The landlord can also ask for one to two months’ rent in advance.
Rental agreement: A legally binding rental agreement outlining the terms and conditions of your tenancy is standard practice.

You can visit our Tenant Information page to learn about what we request of prospective tenants at Kirkland Letting Agents.

What bills do you pay when renting?

When renting a home in Lanarkshire, tenants are generally responsible for several bills:

Rent: Your monthly rent payment is the most significant expense.
Council Tax: Tenants are usually responsible for paying council tax, which varies depending on the property’s valuation band.
Utilities: You’ll need to cover gas, electricity, water, and internet bills.

What expenses for the home are shouldered by the landlord?

Landlords have their share of responsibilities. They are typically responsible for:

Maintenance and repairs: Landlords must ensure that the property is safe and in good repair. This includes covering costs related to structural issues, plumbing, heating, and appliances provided with the property. However, the specifics can vary, so it’s crucial to review your lease agreement to understand which maintenance tasks are covered by your landlord.
Buildings insurance: The property’s structure is usually covered by the landlord’s insurance policy.
Furnishings (if applicable): If the property is furnished, the landlord is responsible for maintaining and replacing furnishings as needed.

Tips for renting in Lanarkshire

If you are on the hunt to rent a home, here are a few tips to make the process smoother for you:

Start your search early: The rental market in Lanarkshire is competitive, so it is important to start your search early. This will give you more time to find the right property and to negotiate a good deal.
Take advantage of the viewing: Aside from getting a feel for the property and the vicinity, you can inquire about practical details like the average cost of utilities, and what furniture is included in the agreement.
Be prepared to act quickly: The best properties often go quickly, so it is important to be ready to make an offer. When you find a property that you are interested in, be prepared to act quickly.
Be flexible with your move-in date: If you are flexible with your move-in date, you will have more options to choose from.
Get help from a letting agent: If you are struggling to find a rental property on your own, you can consider getting help from a letting agent. Letting agents have a large portfolio of rental properties available, and they can help you find the right property for your needs and budget.

Other important considerations to note as a renter?

As a renter in Lanarkshire, there are additional considerations to keep in mind:

Private landlords should be registered with the Scottish Landlord Register, while letting agents should be registered with the Scottish Letting Agent Register. You can request their respective registration numbers to check.
Tenant and Landlord rights and responsibilities: To maintain a positive relationship with your landlord, learn about what you can legally expect from each other while being a responsible and conscientious renter. Here is a good reference for private residential tenancy agreements.
Notice periods: Understand the notice periods required for ending your tenancy or receiving notice from your landlord.
Inventory: Ensure a thorough inventory is conducted at the start and end of your tenancy to avoid disputes over property condition.

Kirkland Letting Agents Lanarkshire & Glasgow

At Kirkland Letting Agents, we have over 10 years of experience working in the letting industry. Senior management is Letwell Certified through Landlord Accreditation Scotland with ongoing training. We are a registered Scottish Letting Agency, with LARN2305008. We are also a member of the Council of Letting Agents through the Scottish Association of Landlords.

Our aim is to facilitate mutually advantageous agreements between landlords and tenants in a competitive rental market. Get in touch to see how we can help you.

For enquiries and to get in touch with the team, click on the button below.

You can also view our listing of properties to let.

What Our Clients Say

"Selling our home with Kirkland was the best decision I have made. We managed to achieve an unbelievable price for our property and sold in a matter of days. Gillian has been an absolute joy to deal with, from arranging viewings to giving me advice, she has been on hand to answer any of my questions and could not be more helpful. She has taken care of everything for me, has ensured that I am up to date at all times and is just such a lovely person. I can’t thank her and the rest of the team enough. I would recommend Kirkland to anyone thinking of selling their home."

"Best decision I have made was to go with Kirkland Estate Agents. Their service was first class. I cannot thank them enough. They totally took the stress out of everything and kept me updated every step of the way. our property was sold in super fast time and the offer accepted, exceeded what we first expected. I can't thank Gillian, Ross and Heather enough, they made you feel like nothing was a bother. I'm actually going to miss my daily chats with Gillian. I would highly recommend them to anyone. Thanks so much again for everything."

"I cannot recommend Kirkland Estate Agents enough from start to finish the team have been so supportive. Ross is always contactable and offers advice throughout. Gillian kept in touch throughout all the viewings offering advice and support taking some of the stress out of the process. I cannot thank the team enough and would highly recommend using them."

"just want to say a huge thank you to Ross, Gillian and Wilma , i waiting a long time and done my research for the best company to sell my house, its been a very emotional time these ladies kept me informed from start to finish, their service was above and beyond what I expected, I would recommend Kirkland Estate agents 100%."

"A huge thank you to Gillian & Wilma for making both the purchase and sale process run so professionally. Your customer service, communication and understanding of your clients make everything so much easier and stress free. I would recommend Kirkland Estate Agents to anyone, they truly are first class. Thank you very much Nicola & Jean"

"Thank you to Ross and Gillian at Kirkland’s for helping me sell my home. Within 1 week of it being on the market we had around 20 viewings carried out and closing date set. Very happy with the price we achieved! This business is very well organised and each step of the process has been straightforward. The reason we picked this agent to begin with was for the marketing / professional photos and they did not disappoint. Great service. Would highly recommend."

"We selected Kirkland Estate Agents out of 3 estate agents. The valuation was spot on, there was no hard sell from Ross. We thought their photography set them apart from other estate agents and found out it was done by a professional photographer. We appreciated the fact they are a small, local company who would do their best to sell our house. As a meticulous graphic designer, I valued their swift responses to my photography and copy-related enquiries. This level of service might not have been possible with a large, national firm. Thanks to Wilma and Gillian for facilitating a quick, above-home-report offer in July and ensuring a smooth process. Wilma's solicitor recommendation was also excellent. If I was selling in the area again I would definitely use Kirkland as I found them super helpful and very quick to action everything."

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