Lets Talk with Citylets

Episode 89 features Lizzie McGhie, Lettings Negotiator with C~urb PSL (Private Sector Leasing) part of Link Housing Group, highlighting its benefits for both landlords and tenants. Lizzie shares her background and journey to her current role, addresses landlord concerns, and explains the property criteria and effective regions for PSL. She also outlines the steps for landlords interested in joinin...

Episode 88 features Sophie Strand, Director of Business Development at Belvoir Edinburgh. Sophie shares insights from her career in high-profile property companies and her current role at Belvoir. She discusses the core values that guide Belvoir Edinburgh and the advantages of their franchise model. Sophie explains the benefits of using a letting agent, the essential steps to ensure a property is...

Episode 87 features Angela Stewart, Founder and Managing Director of Edinburgh's Remeo. She discusses the company's journey since its establishment in 2011 and her collaboration with Susan Godfrey. Angela talks about their backgrounds and how their skills benefit Remeo's services; covering corporate and private relocation, plus home management. Angela shares insights into addressing diverse client...

Episode 86 of Lets Talk features Andrew Williamson from Aberdein Considine. With more than 15 years of industry expertise and an array of qualifications, Andrew provides valuable insights into his professional journey, his recent return to Aberdein Considine, and key developments within the sector. We explore property refurbishment approaches, rental market dynamics, and the student rental market...

In episode 85 of Let's Talk, Harry Crombie, Lettings and New Business Manager at 'Burgh Property, provides valuable insights into the Scottish property market. From discussing 'Burgh's background and recent merger with Clyde Property to predicting rental market trends in 2024. Harry offers his perspectives on navigating changes and consolidations in the industry. He also shares advice for landlord...

Episode 84 of Lets Talk, features Michelle Christie, Managing Consultant of JIL (Jobs in Letting) - a specialist recruitment agency for the Scottish property industry. With over 30 years of first-hand experience, Michelle provides invaluable insights into property recruitment. She discusses JIL's evolution, from its origins in PRS lettings to its expansion into diverse property sectors. Michelle o...

Lets Talk celebrates its five year anniversary by inviting back our first guest, Charlie Inness, Head of Business Development at Glenham Property. Hear about Charlie's rich experience in residential property investment, from his early career to owning his own properties. Explore his pivotal role in establishing investment sourcing services during the rise of Buy to Let, and gain insights into the...

Episode 82 features John Cox, Managing Director of Cox & Co, and Business Development Manager, Neill Bukes covering a range of key matters for landlords today, including investment strategies, navigating issues affecting buy to let mortgages, current rental market conditions in Scotland, and the recently announced tapered approach to rent controls from April 2024.

Episode 81 features Kirstie Donnelly, an Associate Solicitor with TC Young, discussing the issues of anti-social behaviour (ASB) of tenants and Wrongful Termination Orders (WTO), and the First-tier process.

Edinburgh based portfolio landlord, Iftikhar Ali, joins Lets Talk for episode 80 to share his views on the current rental market as well as the Scottish Government’s rent caps and proposals for A New Deal for Tenants. Having previously worked as a qualified mortgage advisor, Iftikhar discusses the challenges and how to overcome them, in securing mortgages to enable continued viability for buy to l...

Episode 79 features Brian Geddes, Managing Director of R J Building Surveying Ltd discussing why there is an ever increasing requirement to regularly inspect and maintain properties. Brian talks through the dangers of building neglect and highlights reports that can increase the value of a property.

Founder of Edinburgh based Watt Property, Angela Watt, joins Lets Talk for episode 78 to share her views on the current Edinburgh rental market and legislative matters, such as the regulations for lead in drinking water, due to take effect from March 2024.

Episode 77 features Director of Edinburgh based Chapmans, Laura Chapman, giving advice to landlords who have experienced a significant increase in costs and feel it necessary to raise rents higher than the stipulated cap.

CEO of the Association of Scotland’s Self-Caterers (ASSC), Fiona Campbell, joins Lets Talk for episode 76 to discuss the serious concerns of the measures introduced by the Scottish Government to regulate the short-term lettings industry.

Branch Manager of Glasgow Property Letting, Michelle O’Donnell, joins Lets Talk for episode 75 to discuss the different types of pest infestations that can commonly occur in Scottish rental properties, how to identify them, their cause and how they can be eliminated.

Episode 74 features CEO of SHARE, Daryl McIntosh explaining about the organisation and the wide range of courses, qualifications and support that it provides to Scottish Housing Associations. Daryl also gives his views on the Scottish Government’s emergency legislation and housing policies.

Episode 73 features Ross Leiper and Lyndsay Yuille from RentLocally discussing marketing strategies in today’s rental market. They also talk about the contributing factors on both the supply and demand side and offer valuable advice to landlords, whether they are considering leaving the market or planning to invest further.

Episode 72 features founder of Colin McShane Interior Styling. Colin talks about the different services that his company provides and describes the main elements and benefits of home staging and interior styling in properties. Colin also talks about his company’s other services such as full or part refurbishments.

Episode 71 features Operations Director of Pinstripe Inventories, Matthew Mackay, talking about the history of the organisation, the introduction of tenancy deposit schemes and the importance of having a detailed inventory in place at the start of the tenancy to avoid deposit disputes or even an adjudication. Matthew also chats about how much software has changed since they were first established...

Steven Cafferty from Deaf Action joins Lets Talk for episode 70 to discuss the barriers and challenges that hard of hearing and deaf people face when looking for a property to rent and then living in the property itself. Steven explains about Deaf Action’s new service, Safe and Sound, which is designed to help Scottish landlords and tenants. Steven also chats about his successful golf career and t...

Episode 69 hears Founder and Director of Scarlett Land and Development, Will Scarlett, discuss the Build to Rent (BTR) movement in Scotland and the challenges it faces relative to the rest of the UK. Will shares his views on the opportunities for institutional investors in Scotland.

Episode 68 features Conservative MSP, Miles Briggs, discussing his views of the Cost of Living (Tenant Protection)(Scotland) Act 2022 and his concerns over the counterproductive and damaging effects it could have on tenants in the long run. Briggs talks about the ramifications the Act has on investment for Scottish rented housing and also future supply.

Episode 67 features Scottish Land and Estates’, Policy Advisor for Rural Property, Anna Gardiner. Anna discusses the challenges of rural private rented tenancies and the concerns of recent emergency tenant protection legislation on rural housing, including landlord affordability, energy efficiency, empty homes and potential long term effects on tenants themselves.

Episode 66 of Lets Talk features Chief Executive of the Scottish Association of Landlords, John Blackwood, and Head of Policy and Campaigns of Propertymark, Timothy Douglas, discussing the Cost of Living (Tenant Protection) (Scotland) Act 2022 which introduced a rent freeze in social and private rented housing and a moratorium on evictions. They also explain the recent changes to the Act that will...

Episode 65 features Ross Macleod, Managing Director of West of Scotland based Macleod Letting. Ross chats about the history of his organisation and the recent revamp to their office. Ross also discusses the current rental market in Glasgow and gives valuable advice to landlords affected by the recent changes in legislation.