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Job Title:                     Property Sales Negotiator Location:                     North Berwick and Dunbar, East Lothian (hybrid-working by agreement) Hours of Work:           Permanent / Full-Time Monday – Friday 9am – 5pm A modern and reputable solicitor’s firm in North Berwick is seeking a Property Sales Negotiator to join their team. We are a successful solicitor’s firm dealing with a range of matters including residential property sales/purchases, estate agency, private client matters, commercial property and matrimonial issues. Principal Duties and Responsibilities: Assisting the property manager in all aspects of property sales; Answering telephone calls and maintaining diaries; Preparing sales brochures and promotional information; Looking at and…

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Job Title:                     Legal Receptionist Location:                    North Berwick, East Lothian Hours of Work:          Permanent / Full-Time (job share considered) Monday – Friday 9am – 5pm A modern and reputable solicitor’s firm in North Berwick is seeking a receptionist to join their team. We are a successful solicitor’s firm dealing with a range of matters to include residential property sales/purchases, estate agency, private client matters, commercial property and matrimonial issues. Principal Duties and Responsibilities: Handling incoming enquiries by telephone and meeting and greeting clients and…

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The Private Housing (Tenancies) (Scotland) Bill was introduced to Parliament on 7th October 2015. The Bill followed two consultations, the first in October 2014 (which received over 2,500 responses) and a second in March 2015 (which received over 7,500 responses.) The intention of the Bill is to deliver improved security of tenure for tenants, introduce a model tenancy agreement for use in the private rented sector and also to introduce new procedures for starting and ending a tenancy in the private rented sector.   One of the biggest changes imposed in the Bill is the removal of the “no fault” ground of repossession (also referred to…

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The New Private Residential Tenancy in Scotland The new Private Residential Tenancy (PRT) has come into force. All new tenancies in the private sector entered into on or after 1st December 2017 in Scotland will be the new Private Residential Tenancy.  The new Private Residential Tenancy was introduced under the Private Housing (Tenancies) (Scotland) Act 2016. The Scottish Government has released a model tenancy agreement which landlords can use to create the new Private Residential Tenancy. The model agreement can be found here: http://www.gov.scot/Resource/0052/00526246.pdf No new assured or short assured tenancies can be created on or after 1st December 2017. What is a “Private Residential Tenancy”? Section 1…

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Landlord Registration came into force in April 2006, in terms of Part 8 of the Anti-Social Behaviour etc. (Scotland) Act 2004 which placed a duty on local authorities to maintain a public register of private landlords in their area.  Since then the private rented sector in Scotland has continued to grow and the Scottish Government is now holding a consultation in relation to reviewing the Landlord Registration process.  In particular, the consultation looks at two specific aspects of the registration process:  what information must be included in the application for registration; and the application fees themselves. It is considered that many landlords apply for registration with…

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  There has been an increasing number of calls of late for restrictions to be imposed in relation to the letting of properties on a short term basis, and in particular via Airbnb. Complaints have been made from owner occupiers, particularly in common stairs, in relation to noise levels, people coming and going from properties at all hours of the day and night, excess rubbish and general anti-social and disruptive behaviour.    Recently, a group of landlords who were letting their properties via Airbnb were found by the City of Edinburgh Council’s Planning Department to be operating their property in breach of planning guidelines and were…

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The Tenancy Deposit Schemes (Scotland) Regulations 2011 made it compulsory for landlords to place tenancy deposits within an approved scheme for protection during a tenancy.   A deposit must be paid into one of three approved schemes in Scotland, within thirty working days of the start of a tenancy.  Should a landlord fail to lodge a deposit in an approved scheme within that timescale, or fail to provide statutory written information to the tenant, then the tenant can apply to the First-Tier Tribunal for an order for payment in their favour against the landlord of up to three times the amount of the deposit taken.   …

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In this blog, Fiona Watson, offers advice for landlords and letting agents on serving a Notice to Leave. Fiona draws on a significant recent Upper Tribunal case, which it is important for landlords and letting agents to know about. Having specialised in residential tenancy law for a number of years, Fiona is also a Legal Member of the First-tier Tribunal for Scotland, Housing and Property Chamber. Fiona advises clients on a wide range of issues relating to residential leasing, as well as residential conveyancing, private client, and family law. Since the introduction of the Private Housing (Tenancies) (Scotland) Act 2016 which created the Private Residential Tenancy…

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We are one of East Lothian’s most recognisable estate agency brands and have over 90 years’ experience of selling and buying properties in East Lothian. Our property team has exceptional knowledge of the local housing market and would be delighted to be entrusted with the sale of your property. Meet Tracy French, our Property Manager in North Berwick. Q:  Can you describe a typical day as Property Manager for Paris Steele? A typical day as Property Manager will start in the office planning the day ahead, followed by some research into the property I am booked in to visit to carry out a pre-sale market appraisal…

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Paris Steele was very proud to be supporting Will Aid again this November, pledging to waive our usual fee for a will in exchange for donations to charity. Our efforts raised £1,380 so far for Will Aid in 2021, taking our total to an incredible £12,633 since 2006. Click here to visit the Will Aid website. 

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