Home to Stay

May 28th, 2013 | Posted by admin in News - (Comments Off)

If you’ve seen our Facebook page recently, you might have noticed that EPTAG has launched a new campaign called Home To Stay. We’re calling on the Scottish Government to abolish the short assured tenancy, which forces thousands of households to live under constant threat of eviction. Since it was introduced in 1989, the short assured …
Read more

Following our protest Albany lettings paid up!

March 22nd, 2013 | Posted by admin in News - (Comments Off)

Kerstin’s account of how, with the help of EPTAG, she got Albany Lettings to pay what they owe!  When I moved into a new flat in July 2010, I was charged a £65 “referencing fee” by Albany Lettings. However, I then found out through EPTAG that these tenancy fees are illegal, and so I started …
Read more

Another victory for Edinburgh private tenants as criminal landlord banned

February 25th, 2013 | Posted by admin in News - (Comments Off)

Edinburgh City Council recently ruled that millionaire businessman Mark Fortune be removed from the city’s licensing register as unfit to operate as a landlord.  It is the first time that the council has refused a landlord application. It is now illegal for this individual to let out properties and charge rents.  The story is covered …
Read more

Take action against illegal letting agency fees!

September 25th, 2012 | Posted by admin in News - (Comments Off)

Following our recent protest against the letting agency DJ Alexander, they have given in and stopped charging illegal fees! Inspired by this victory, we are having a protest against another rip-off agency in Edinburgh. We will be setting up a ‘crime scene’ outside the letting agency Edinburgh Spaces on Tuesday 2nd October, at 12pm, as …
Read more

Letting agency fails to silence fees protest

July 20th, 2012 | Posted by admin in News - (Comments Off)

More than 20 tenants picketed the DJ Alexander letting agency on Dundas Street today, as a protest against the charging of illegal fees. In a comical move, the agency hired workers to grind paving slabs and pressure hose pavements in a failed attempt to disrupt the protest.

Rogue landlord receives ban

July 9th, 2012 | Posted by admin in News - (Comments Off)

A victory has been won for the tenants of Edinburgh as the first bad landlord has been banned from renting out any properties whatsoever. Yousef Mohammed was removed from the landlords’ register at a meeting of the council’s regulatory committee on June 22 this year. He had previously been fined £1000 at Edinburgh Sheriff Court for …
Read more

Student wins back his deposit

June 27th, 2012 | Posted by admin in News - (Comments Off)

An Edinburgh student had his deposit illegally withheld by his letting agency for five years. However, following advice from EPTAG, he managed to get his money back. 

Renting set to become a ‘way of life’

June 10th, 2012 | Posted by admin in News - (Comments Off)

Rent rises, and lack of access to credit, are trapping an increasing number of young families in the private rented sector, according to a  new report commissioned by Shelter and the Resolution Foundation.

Tenancy fees are illegal: lets keep them that way.

April 18th, 2012 | Posted by admin in News - (Comments Off)

The Scottish Government is clarifying the law on tenancy fees, and has launched its “Consultation on the Charging of Premiums in the Private Rented Sector”. They are currently illegal, however some fees may actually end up being legalised following this consultation, so swift action is needed.

Can You Trust Your Landlord With Your Personal Details?

April 4th, 2012 | Posted by admin in News - (Comments Off)

If you live in rented housing, then there’s a chance that your personal details are being stored and shared without your knowledge. It has recently emerged that landlords have been setting up websites to share records about their previous tenants, effectively giving them the ability to create a blacklist.