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 in 2009 and explains about the software he helped develop to ensure swift but thorough recordings of properties.

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 the worldwide championships he has won.

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 come into force from April, as well as the petition that they have lodged to the Court of Session in Edinburgh in response to this legislation.

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.

Episode 64 hears Matthew Bringloe, Service Manager for Aberdeen Cyrenians’ ‘Settled Homes for All’ initiative, talk about the empty homes crisis in Aberdeen and how they aim to get these homes back into use, to help support those in need as well as landlords.

Episode 63 features Business Development Director, Louis Daillencourt discussing Novoville’s Shared Repairs App, which the City of Edinburgh Council introduced to help owners of housing blocks deal with shared repairs. Described as a ‘game changer’, the app integrates all aspects of the repairs process benefiting owners and property professionals too.

Managing Director of Grant Fairbairn Property Leasing joins Lets Talk for episode 62 to share his views on the recent Scottish Government announcement on the rent freeze for existing tenancies and the moratorium on evictions. Grant also discusses the housing crisis including the Glasgow student market, and speaks about his recent office relocation to Edinburgh.