Let’s Talk About Lets

Comment: Leith build to rent project sets the standard for future housing

Build to rent is increasingly viewed as a solution to the housing crisis, says Matthew Benson.

East Lothian and the Perfect Harmony of Coastal Living

The distance between East Lothian and Edinburgh is only a few centimetres on the map and a short journey by car or public transport, but that small distance is enough to completely detach from the fast pace of city living. This proximity to the capital is a major draw for residents to East Lothian, who revel in the ideal pairing of an easy commute during the work week while living in a stunning rural location

Housing Minister meets new residents at Western Harbour

Edinburgh residents are settling into their new homes, built through the innovative National Housing Trust (NHT) scheme forming part of a wider commitment from Scottish Government to deliver 50,000 affordable and high-quality homes by 2021. The scheme offers aspiring homeowners the opportunity to work toward owning their home after saving for a deposit

Why Choose Melrose?

At the foot of the triple peaks of the Eildon Hills, nestled in the valley of the Tweed, lies the picturesque town of Melrose. This small, perfectly formed ancient town boasts magnificent red sandstone buildings and two walled gardens in the centre of town.

The undeniable benefit of one point of contact

For those not familiar with Rettie & Co’s one point of contact concept, the way we work is that our team of ten portfolio managers each personally manage a portfolio of properties, with the management being from start to finish. We don’t have a separate maintenance team, move in, or move out team but instead we oversee the entire process holistically and personally.

Glasgow Southside Residential Sales Update

Glasgow’s leafy Southside has experienced the rising tide of the Glasgow market in the recent years.

The Long and the Short of Short Lets as an Investment

I recently met with a property owner who was struggling with the decision between letting their investment property as a long-term or short-term rental. It’s a question I am often asked by investors, looking to enter a niche market that has grabbed so many headlines in recent years.

Morningside Residential Sales Update

Morningside is that rare pocket of a city, where village character meets cosmopolitan urbanity and leafy open spaces border plentiful restaurants and cafes. This strong neighbourhood feel combined with excellent public and private schools, bewitching residential streets, plentiful amenities, and varied leisure activities makes Morningside one of Edinburgh’s most prestigious areas.

Southside on the up

Before the West End was cool, it was all about the Southside, and now it’s making a comeback! In 2017 Shawlands was named in the Sunday Times as one of the best places to live in Scotland, and it’s popularity has gone from strength to strength since.

Sunshine on Leith: Edinburgh's Hot Area to Live

Gosforth Residential Sales Update

Gosforth’s leafy streets, abundance of terraced, semi-detached and detached properties, and excellent amenities makes it the crown jewel of Newcastle areas.

Changes to Landlord Registration

Here at Rettie, we take pride in going above and beyond for our clients, but sadly, we can’t manage a landlord’s registration for them with the local authority.  So, we wanted to make you aware of some changes you can expect when registering or re-registering your properties

Rettie & Co. and Canopy Continue Their Partnership

The partnership between Rettie & Co. and UK rental market app Canopy steps up a gear thanks to the introduction of instant digital referencing for our customers. Canopy allows renters a range of benefits and now includes the streamlining of the rental process by removing the hassle and associated costs with referencing. Now, renters will have instant access to their history with a click of a button.

Your Lettings Journey

For many people like you, letting your property or investing in rental property is a key way to achieve your long-term goals. At Rettie & Co., our Letting & Management service will put you in the best possible position to achieve those goals. Whether you’ve just decided to start letting your property or are looking to expand your portfolio, we’ll be there to provide unrivalled support and advice.

East Lothian Residential Sales Update

There is really a location for everyone in East Lothian, with a wide range of towns, pretty villages, and rural locations for buyers to choose from. East Lothian also attracts many second home purchasers who wish to get away from the hustle and bustle of the city at the weekend.

Berwick Residential Sales Update

Berwick upon Tweed and surrounds maybe don’t see the lofty increases of Edinburgh or Newcastle but we have seen steady growth over the last 10 years. People live and move to Berwickshire and North Northumberland for the lifestyle the area offers partnered with excellent transport links north and south but people also want to know that bricks and mortar is still a safe and easy option.

EH4 Residential Sales Update

The West of Edinburgh brings together the best of suburban living with the geographic proximity to city centre living. This enviable blend makes the EH4 postcode one of Edinburgh’s most desirable, where comfortable family life with easy access to excellent public and private schools, leisure activities, and the countryside is juxtaposed with a closeness to the thrum of Edinburgh’s city centre.

Rettie Newcastle sponsors the Newcastle Schools 500

Rettie & Co.’s Newcastle office is continuing its sponsorship of local, community-based events with the Newcastle Schools 500. As an event that celebrates the Newcastle Schools Olympic legacy and involves students from across Newcastle, our Newcastle team is delighted to be promoting teamwork, healthy competition, community engagement, and exercise.

Rettie Berwick - Open House Event - 29/30th June 2019

Come along to our Open House event held by the Rettie Berwick team on Saturday, 29th June 2019, 10am – 12noon and Sunday, 30th June, 11am to 3pm.

Glasgow City Residential Sales Update

Our research shows that the residential property sales market in Glasgow has risen 15.5% in the last three years with a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 4.9% per year and that it is continuing to grow.

Community Event at Western Harbour

Western Harbour Community Event! Friday 31st May Now that we have welcomed all the residents and the builders are moving onto the next project, we have a arranged a small community get together with some kids entertainment. This was a great chance for all residents to meet each other, and the Rettie team.

First BTR Qualification in Scotland

Rettie & Co. has become the first company in Scotland to put its dedicated BTR team through the Institute of Property Management’s (IRPM) Build to Rent (BTR) qualification.

The Rettie Ruminant—Scottish Farmland Market Q1 2019

The farmland market remained fairly subdued during the first quarter of 2019. This is perhaps slightly surprising given the mild spring weather we witnessed in February and March and the various uncertainties that continue to assail the Scottish farming industry.

Harbour Gateway welcomes final residents

Edinburgh's Harbour Gateway, Scotland's best example of Build to Rent, welcomes its final residents at the end of May in the largest BTR project of its kind in Scotland. Harbour Gateway is the latest phase of the Western Harbour managed rent community, with 234 mid-market homes delivered by Forth Ports partnership with Rettie & Co. Harbour Gateway and Western Harbour were made possible by innovative National Housing Trust funding provided by City of Edinburgh Council and Scottish Futures Trust on behalf of the Scottish Government.

West Lothian Residential Sales Update

Our research show that the sale of prime residential property–valued about £500,000–is continuing to grow in West Lothian. The total transactions for properties sold over £500,000 have increased by 113% over the past five years, which indicate two compelling factors that impact regional sales.

Spotlight on Morningside

Morningside often gets pigeon holed into the clipped, upper-crust accent epitomized in popular culture in The Prime of Miss Jean Brodie and numerous Ian Rankin and Alexander McCall Smith novels. However, this enclave of Edinburgh is so much more than the oft-cited adage “you’ll have had your tea.”

Rettie & Co. serves as property advisors to PfP Capital for site acquisitions

Two new developments in Scotland have been acquired by the Mid-Market Rent Fund via Places for People’s fund management arm, PfP Capital. These are the first purchases made by the fund since launching. PfP Capital’s MMR fund has been looking for sites across Scotland to deliver 1,000 affordable homes.

Rettie Borders - Open House Event - 27/28th April 2019

Melrose Open House Event

Rettie Berwick - Open House Event - 27/28th April 2019

Come along to our Open House event held by the Rettie Berwick team on Saturday, 27th April 2019, 10am – 12noon and Sunday, 28th April, 11am to 3pm.

Fife Residential Sales Update

Our research shows that the sale of prime residential property (above £500,000) is continuing to grow in Fife. Total transactions of all properties sold over £500,000 has increased by 131% over the last five years.

Newcastle Sponsors Local Dance Event

Our Newcastle office prides itself on being at the heart of the Newcastle market and part of the fabric of the community. Active engagement within the local community is important, whether that is supporting local small business, civic involvement, or local events.

The Rettie Ruminant—Forestry: The Hill Farmer's Friend

Could forestry be the hill farmer's friend? It is now over 25 years since the landowner and the then Nature Conservancy Council disagreed on planting trees in Glenlochay Estates. 

Revealed: The Vision for Edinburgh's Western Harbour

Working in collaboration with 7N Architects and Forth Ports, Rettie & Co. has been providing development management services to deliver the next phase of more than 900 new homes at Western Harbour.

Perthshire Residential Sales Update 2019

Our research shows that the sale of prime residential property (above £500,000) is continuing to grow in Perthshire. The total value of all properties sold over £500,000 has increased by 70% over the last five years. 

Festival & Short Let Properties Required

With the Edinburgh Festival fast approaching, thousands of prospective visitors are already looking to secure accommodation for this iconic month-long celebration of the arts. With the festival’s reputation growing year on year, guests continue to search for festival rentals increasingly early, with bookings well underway for the month of August.

CALA APPOINTS RETTIE & CO. AS SALES AGENT FOR LANDMARK £100M DEVELOPMENT

CALA Homes (West) has announced the APPOINTMENT of RETTIE & CO as real estate agent for its PRESTIGIOUS Jordanhill Park development.

The Rettie Ruminant—January 2019

Capital value growth remained muted during 2018, which has led to a somewhat cautious near-term outlook for farmland values. In spite of this, it is apparent to us that the market continues to grow more polarised between high quality land in good locations and lower grade farmland.

Rettie & Co. acquires residential property portfolio

Rettie & Co is pleased to announce the acquisition of a 100-strong portfolio of residential properties in Edinburgh’s city centre from Crichton-Stuart Management.  The portfolio includes a large number of HMO (house in multiple occupation) flats in prime student areas, including 3-4 bedroom flats in the Marchmont area of the capital.

The Rettie Ruminant—November 2018

Another very successful AgriScot event took place at Ingliston on 21 November. What is always a great opportunity for those seeking commercial and technical answers to the myriad of different questions that arise for farm businesses and advisers, was this year accompanied by regular discussions and conversations that referenced the political firestorm that has been consuming our news feeds in recent weeks.

Delivering Build to Rent

Movers & Shakers' Build to Rent (BTR) Forum Scotland held in Edinburgh on 11th October, in its 4th year, was the most successful yet. Building on previous Forums, and the accelerated growth we have seen over the last year, the theme for this year's Forum was 'Living with Build to Rent' - reflecting that there are now around 700 BTR homes now being occupied, and close to 5,500 in the pipeline.

Rettie & Co. and Canopy to trial deposit-free renting in Scotland for the first time

Rettie & Co. has partnered with the UK rental market app Canopy to trial RentPassport and DepositFree insurance at our recently launched Harbour Gateway mid-market Build to Rent (BTR) development in Edinburgh.  In Scotland, approximately 40 per cent of all households under the age of 35 are in the Private Rental System. In Edinburgh, this statistic is closer to 65%.

Can I switch estate agents?

Deciding to put your house on the market is an exciting step and takes careful planning and consideration.  However, the process is all too often a stressful and frustrating one when things don’t go to plan.

Rettie & Co. appointed to support delivery of 1,000 affordable homes in Scotland by Places for People’s real estate fund

Rettie & Co. has been appointed to identify suitable Mid Market Rent investment opportunities, builds on firm’s BTR and MMR expertise.

Rettie & Co. Winners: Best Supporting Organisation of the Year 2018

We are delighted to have won an award for the Best Supporting Organisation for the year 2018. It has been awarded by Homes for Scotland, an organisation that recognises and rewards the best in class in housebuilding across Scotland.

Development Team | Graduate Programme

Applications are now open for our Development Team graduate programme. We are currently recruiting for a graduate to begin and develop their career in our Development team. This is a great opportunity to join our highly experienced Development team that specialises UK and overseas Residential Capital Markets, Development Services, Housing Investment and House Building.

Urgent demand for Festival & Short Let Properties in Edinburgh

The countdown to Edinburgh Festival 2018 has begun with first show bookings available online from February and thousands of visitors already looking for short-term accommodation over the summer. We are observing an increasing demand for city-centre properties, so if you are lucky to own one and are looking to rent it out short-term, there is no better time to start thinking ahead to make sure you secure a full month booking.

Private Residential Tenancies: a Guide

The new Private Residential Tenancy (PRT) comes into force on 1st December 2017, replacing the current system of assured and short assured tenancies. Existing assured and short assured tenancies are unaffected by the changes.

Hazel Sharp Webb on the BTR Forum Scotland

As always, the Forum was well attended by agents, solicitors and even government agencies and policy makers, although there were relatively few developers or prospective investors, and the banks were notable by their absence.

Post Election Nuggets – Curtice, the Queen and the under 35’s

Well done again John Curtice. Yet again, we could all have gone to bed at 10pm when the nation’s favourite psephologist correctly called the result before any of the 35 million or so votes were even counted.

Open House Weekend | 29th & 30th April

We are delighted to announce that a number of properties we are currently marketing in the Scottish Borders and North Northumberland will be available for open viewings during our Open House Weekend Event between 10am and 2pm on Saturday 29th and Sunday 30th April 2017.

Rettie & Co. advises on Scotland's biggest ever build to rent deal

Rettie & Co. has advised Moda Living on Scotland’s biggest build to rent deal and one of the biggest post-Brexit housing transactions in the UK.

Recruitment opportunities at Rettie & Co.

As Rettie & Co. continues to expand across Scotland and the North of England, we are looking for talented individuals to join our growing team.

Rettie & Co. Act for the University of Edinburgh in Acquisition of Quartermile’s Surgical Hospital Building

Rettie & Co. are pleased to announce the acquisition of the former Surgical Building at the Quartermile development, Edinburgh. The Category A-listed 120,000 sq.ft Surgical Hospital building (known as Q1) has been acquired from Quartermile Developments Limited.

Newton Mearns Office Now Open

We are pleased to announce the opening of our new office in the southside of Glasgow.

Time to Buy at Gleneagles

Last week it was announced that the multinational drinks company Diageo had served it’s final round at the Gleneagles Hotel as it handed the reigns over to new owners Ennismore, a private investment company who purchased the institution for £150m.

Outstanding Development Site | Athron Hill

Rettie & Co. have brought to the market a 196 acre (79 ha) site located in Kinross-shire on the southern aspect of Dochrie Hill with spectacular views to the south across Loch Leven.

Rettie Strengthens It’s Team with Key Appointment in the West

Rettie & Co. is delighted to confirm the appointment of James Durward, one of Scotland’s most experienced and successful estate agents, to further enhance the team at Rettie Bearsden.

Development Services Deal Highlights

Rettie & Co.’s Development Services Team had a busy 2014 and have been proudly shortlisted as Finalists in the ‘Best Partnership in Affordable Housing Delivery’ category at the Homes for Scotland Awards being held on Friday 15th May. You can view some of our more notable structured finance, land, development, residential investment, student housing and research & consultancy deals her

Rettie & Co. join First Minister in Dumfries to mark the completion of new National Housing Trust development

Sixty nine new below market rent homes are now available in Dumfries thanks to the National Housing Trust (NHT), an initiative developed by the Scottish Government based on work by Rettie & Co., to increase the supply of affordable homes.

Edinburgh St James hotel and residential investment opportunities launched

TIAA Henderson Real Estate (TH Real Estate) has confirmed that investment opportunities for the hotel and residential aspects of its £850m Edinburgh St James development are now being proactively marketed.

Introducing OnTheMarket.com

Rettie & Co. are among the vast majority of Scottish agents to list all of its properties on the new major property search portal OnTheMarket.com.

Ground-Breaking Deal by Rettie & Co.’s Structured Finance Team

A ceremony this morning attended by the Scottish Housing Minister Margaret Burgess, marked the completion of the largest National Housing Trust project yet undertaken in Scotland.

Exciting opportunities for property development near golf courses

As we previously presented, properties near golf courses have become increasingly sought after especially with The Open Championships just around the corner. And now, there are also new build opportunities located near golf courses for us to share with you. Check out our range of prospects for property development near golf courses and unleash your creative side, designing the home you’ve always dreamed of.

RETTIE & CO. STAFF PROMOTIONS

Rettie & Co., one of Scotland’s largest independent Estate Agencies announced that Nick Watson and Max Mills are to be promoted to Directors from 1 May 2014.

Housing market cycle - Where are we now?

In Scotland, real house prices, despite the peaks and troughs, have grown by around 2% per annum since 1974.

Salamander Place – Finalists in Homes for Scotland Awards 2013

Salamander Place has been selected as a Finalist for ‘Best Partnership in Affordable Housing Delivery‘ in the Homes for Scotland Awards 2013. Following another record number of entries, the shortlist for Homes for Scotland’s 2013 awards has been announced.

S1 Homes new development - Ellersly Road, Murrayfield

After winning the 'Small Housebuilder of the Year' category at the Scottish Home Awards, S1 Developments have had a highly successful 2012.

The sale of JK Rowling’s former Edinburgh home

As a company familiar with the sale of large, high-profile and high-end properties, we expected this one to be no different – an Edinburgh mansion in one of the best locations in Edinburgh.

Student Housing Site sold for over £3m at Lochrin Place, Tollcross, Edinburgh

Leading Scottish house builder Mactaggart & Mickel Group have concluded the sale of part of their 0.8 hectare (1.98 acres) site at Lochrin Place, to the west of Tollcross, Edinburgh. Part of the site has been sold to Knightsbridge Student Housing Ltd (KSHL) and benefits from Detailed Planning Consent for 240 student bedrooms together with 3 commercial units. KSHL paid over £3m for the site.

Rettie & Co innovate to enable construction at Salamander Place

In an environment of low New Homes starts and completions, emerging alternative development funding initiatives are providing some good news stories. Working in close conjunction with The Scottish Futures Trust, City of Edinburgh Council and The Scottish Government, Rettie & Co. acted on behalf of Teague Homes and successfully coordinated a transaction which has enabled construction of 145 Affordable Housing properties at Salamander Place, Leith.

TENANT FEES – WHAT ARE THEY FOR?

As the discussion about tenant agency fees rumbles on, a leading Edinburgh Agent points out that tenants can in fact benefit by paying for a lettings service, however they need to be aware of how to find value for their money.

Former Edinburgh Fruitmarket site to house 380 new homes

A groundbreaking new property initiative is to result in the creation of 380 new homes for rent on the former site of Edinburgh's Fruitmarket.