Our long-standing relationship with Lindsays gives our Members access to an award winning firm of solicitors who have particular expertise in advising organisations within the housing sector. There have been a number of significant legislative and regulatory changes in Scotland's private rental sector which are having a direct impact on how letting agents run their business. Our relationship with Lindsays is designed to assist you in addressing those challenges.
All Lettingweb Members receive one complimentary consultation on legal issues. Click here to contact Lindsays.
Lindsays is an award winning Scottish law firm providing legal advice and estate agency services to individuals, families and businesses. The firm has more than 200 staff working from offices in Edinburgh, Glasgow, Dundee and North Berwick.
As a full-service firm their specialists work closely together to advise businesses in areas such as banking and finance, commercial property, corporate and technology, employment law and dispute resolution. They also help individuals and families with family law matters, buying and selling residential property, preparing wills and dealing with executries.
Private Letting Sector Experience
Lindsays help many different housing clients, from letting agencies and private landlords to registered social landlords.
They advise clients on a range of matters such as landlord and tenant law, tenancy deposit schemes, the repairing standard and Private Rented Housing Panel (PRHP), tenancy agreements and leases, compliance with requirements for documentation and notices, contracts, HMO's, letting charges and premiums, rent arrears, eviction and debt recovery and the purchase and sale of property.
Disputes with tenants are relatively common in the sector. Their primary concern is to prevent disputes occurring in the first place, but if a dispute is already in progress, they aim to save their clients’ money and time by resolving it before it reaches litigation.
The value of our relationship with Lindsays is in the quality of the people who this partnership gives our Members access to. These include:
Paul Harper
Paul Harper is a Partner at Lindsays with more than 20 years' experience in commercial litigation - in particular the law of landlord and tenant both in the residential and commercial property sectors.
As a specialist in housing law, Paul provides advice to Registered Social Landlords and the private sector on a range of tenancy-related matters including the termination of leases, the recovery of rent arrears and all other debts, succession and anti-social behaviour. He presents seminars on housing and litigation issues to a wide client base.
He has considerable experience in property-related disputes including irritancy, boundary disputes, break options, construction of missives and leases, assignation and sub-letting disputes and dilapidations.
Niall Hassard
Niall Hassard, is an Associate in Lindsays’ Licensing and Dispute Resolution and Litigation teams. Niall retains a keen interest in Litigation and in particular, the law of landlord and tenant. He has extensive experience in tenancy disputes and regularly speaks at seminars on legislative changes in the PRHS.
He also has considerable experience in advising on HMO properties and dealing with ASBO’s.
Jane Rattray
Jane is a Solicitor in Lindsays’ Dispute Resolution and Litigation team and is based in our Edinburgh office.
Jane specialises in landlord/ tenant disputes for both private landlords and housing associations. She appears at the heritage court at Edinburgh Sheriff Court every Friday to represent two of the main housing associations in Edinburgh.
She also carries out debt recovery work for private individuals and companies and has experience in personal injury work.
The complimentary one hour consultation provides you with general legal guidance on the housing issues you are having problems with. The relevant law will be explained to you and at the end of the consultation you should have an understanding of the general legal framework together with specific action points to tackle the particular issues you have identified. Where appropriate, a short summary of the discussions will be provided to you.
If your issue is particularly complex and further legal input is required beyond the one hour complimentary consultation, Lindsays will of course advise you on what steps may be required and give you an indication of the costs involved.
For the avoidance of doubt, substantive legal work such as drafting or revising documents cannot be undertaken as part of the one hour consultation. Due to the Law Society of Scotland rules Lindsays is only allowed to undertake substantive legal work for established clients. However should you find yourself requiring substantive legal work Lindsays would be delighted to take you through the straightforward process of becoming a client.
Complete the following steps to take advantage of the one hour complimentary consultation offered by Lindsays:
- Call Lindsays on 0131 656 5710 to make a telephone appointment at a mutually convenient time.
- Send any pertinent documentation relating to the case at least 24 hours (preferably via email to lindsays@lettinglegal.co.uk) in advance of the call to maximise the value to you.
- Carry out the telephone consultation at the agreed time.
- Following the call, you will receive, if requested, a written summary of the discussion of the consultation.
The direct point of contact for Lettingweb Members is Paul Harper.
Email: lettinglegal@lindsays.co.uk
Telephone: 0131 656 5639