Agents tell students...beware of agents

With most university and higher education institutions beginning their new academic years this week there has been an unusual warning to students from a letting agents' body - it is to avoid being ripped off by letting agents.

Scotland's Council of Letting Agents says students, especially those with no prior renting experience, are often a prime target for rogue letting agents resulting in high costs and tenants staying in sub-standard and sometimes dangerous accommodation.

The CLA is urging new and returning students to watch for key signs to ensure that they are working with a credible letting agent who is working within the law and to the highest professional standards.

The body says students should:

- ensure their letting agent is a member of a professional body;

- make sure the agent does not charge tenants anything in connection with the grant of a lease other than rent and a security deposit;

- ensure the agent lodges all deposits with a tenancy deposit scheme. Be wary of agents who say they don't take deposits, particularly if they take large sums of rent in advance;

- clarify what services the agent is providing. Sometimes they will be involved in managing the property from the start to the end of the tenancy; sometimes the landlord will take over once the tenants move in;

- ask to see a copy of their standard lease before commiting to the property;

- remember that whilst a letting agent may offer contents insurance they cannot insist on it being purchased.