Preparing your property to rent

Before you can rent out a property in Scotland you must register as a landlord with the council for the area the property is in, unless an exemption applies. If anyone else owns the property with you, they must register too, and registration has to be renewed every three years.

Registration is done online through the Scottish Landlord Register, which also lists the information you will need and the current fees. Renting without being registered is a criminal offence, so treat this as the first job rather than the last.

Exemptions exist, for example for resident landlords and some family lets. Check the official registration page if you think one might apply to you.

Tell your mortgage lender and your insurer that you plan to rent the property. Renting can affect mortgage terms, and insurers may need you to change your policy. If the property is in a tenement, you are responsible for having appropriate buildings insurance.

It is worth asking these questions early: a lender's consent or a new policy can take longer to arrange than the cleaning and repairs.

The Repairing Standard is the minimum level of repair a house must achieve to be let privately in Scotland. It covers the building itself and the installations, fittings and furnishings you provide, and it applies at the start of the tenancy and at all times during it. You are responsible for it even if you use a letting agent.

The official summary says the property must, among other things:

• be structurally stable, and wind and watertight
• be free from damp and mould
• have enough ventilation, light, heating and insulation
• have walls and roof in reasonable condition, and a proper entrance
• allow tenants to reach and use any communal areas, like stairwells and closes, safely
• have a safe water supply, a working toilet, drainage, and a sink, bath or shower and wash basin with hot and cold water
• have a suitable area for storing and preparing food, and cooking facilities or somewhere a tenant can install their own

The safety parts of the standard (electrics, gas, fire and carbon monoxide alarms, and legionella) are covered in our Safety and compliance guide.

None of the following is a legal requirement. It is what we have found makes a home easier to let and easier to look after once a tenant moves in.

• Fix the small things before photographs: dripping taps, sticking doors, loose handles, blown bulbs and tired sealant around baths and sinks.
• Give the property a thorough clean, including inside cupboards, the oven and windows. Tenants are usually asked to return a home in the condition they found it, so start from a clear baseline.
• Touch up scuffed paintwork in a light, neutral colour. It photographs well and is easy to keep consistent between tenancies.
• Decide whether to let furnished or unfurnished. Any furniture and fittings you provide, including carpets and equipment, must be in reasonable condition and safe to use, so only leave what you are happy to maintain.
• Tidy the garden or outside space and clear any lofts, cellars or stores that are not included in the let.
• Gather appliance manuals, boiler instructions and the location of the stopcock and fuse board, so they can be left for the tenant.
• Have a full set of keys cut for each tenant, plus one for access and repairs.

Every advert or listing for the property must include your landlord registration number, or the words 'landlord registration pending' if your application is still being processed. All adverts must also show the property's Energy Performance Certificate (EPC) rating, which rates energy efficiency from A (most efficient) to G (least efficient).

When RentLocally markets a property to let, we advertise it on Rightmove. We do not list on other property portals, and this guide does not promise any particular number of enquiries, viewings or a time to let.

• Landlord registration applied for or in place, for every owner
• Mortgage lender and insurer told; buildings insurance in place if the property is in a tenement
• Repairs completed and the property checked against the Repairing Standard summary
• Safety checks and certificates arranged (see the Safety and compliance guide)
• Valid EPC available, with the rating ready for the advert
• Property cleaned, small repairs done, furnished or unfurnished decided
• Manuals, keys and meter locations gathered for the tenant