The rental market in Hawick is strong, with many people having rented a property at some point in their life, whilst others are seeking to generate income from an investment property.
Legislation was introduced in 2017 to regulate the way tenancies operate and was designed to protect the interests of both landlords and tenants. As a result, all new tenancies created on or after 1 December 2017 are open-ended, which means a landlord cannot ask a tenant to leave the property, simply because the fixed term has ended. The regulations also protect tenants against excessive rent increases. This provides tenants with more security, particularly in these uncertain times. Notwithstanding this, Landlords can regain their properties, in 18 specific situations.
If you are thinking about renting a property or becoming a landlord, we strongly recommend that you have a written agreement in place to safeguard your position. We can deal with drafting these relatively simple agreements on your behalf and explain your rights and obligations as a tenant or landlord, so you are not hit with any unexpected surprises.
If you are involved in a tenancy dispute that has unfortunately gone wrong, we can also give you assistance and advise you on the options available to you.
On an entirely separate note, if anyone is interested in pursuing a legal career, the Scottish Borders is a great place to do this. I have been working in Hawick for nearly 5 years now and worked in Peebles previously and would highly recommend it. You can benefit from a good work life balance, and I am sure many would agree that you can gain more experience at a younger age than you may do in a city firm. I would I urge anyone considering embarking in the legal profession to consider staying in the Scottish Borders, as there are many opportunities available.
