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WE GET IT, IT'S YOUR HOME

So we do everything we can to make you feel at home during your time with Umega. There’s a negative stereotype of letting agencies and the way they treat tenants that creates unnecessary stress and frustration. Renting your home shouldn’t be like this and at Umega we do everything in our power to make sure it is not. As one of our tenants, we’ll take care of you and your home for as long as you rent with us.

SEARCH OUR AVAILABLE PROPERTIES HERE

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VIEWING OUR PROPERTIES

You can arrange a viewing for any of our available properties, by clicking on the Book A Viewing button on that property’s details page. Just select a day and time that suits!

APPLYING FOR A PROPERTY

Our application process is taken care of online so you’ll seamlessly go from viewing one of our properties to becoming a Umega tenant.

REPORT A REPAIR

Lights not working? No heating? Don’t wait!
Use our Fixflo 24/7 Maintenance Reporting online to get immediate advice & tips and the fastest access to assistance from our team

 

REPORT A REPAIR

WE GET IT, YOUR HOME IS YOUR SANCTUARY

It’s our aim that our tenants have complete trust in us to take care of them and their property. We do everything we can to make the renting process as straightforward and clear as possible, always communicating openly and clearly, doing what we can to make the process of being a Umega tenants as simple and stress-free as possible.

Our team is focused on customer service, they are personable and here to respond to whatever our tenants might need from their letting agent or property manager. We build strong, lasting and trusting relationships with our tenants so that they feel safe, secure and at home with us and our team. 

You can book viewing appointments for our advertised properties anytime of the day or night through our website and our full onboarding process, including application, referencing and document signing, is taken care of online, making life as convenient as possible for potential tenants. Once settled into one of our properties our tenants can report and get support on any maintenance issue in their property 24/7.

We’re regulated by ARLA Propertymark meaning we fully comply with the guidelines and Code of Practice set out by Propertymark.

CUSTOMER REVIEWS

We have had an amazing experience with Umega thus far.

Everything from communication to viewings to document signing has been so smooth, modern and efficient.

Nothing is too much of a bother and the company is filled with people who genuinely want to help you.

Thank you Umega.

  • Iona Sarah

Extremely pleased with all the help and support in finding a lovely new home through umega. They made every step of the way easier in what was quite a stressful time. Nothing was too much bother for them at any time. Thank you so much for all that you did.

  • Jill Jo

We recently rented a house through UMEGA, and the entire experience has been exceptional. The process was incredibly fast, and the team at UMEGA maintained constant communication with us. Whenever we had questions or concerns, they were quick to respond and provided solutions promptly. Moving can be stressful, but UMEGA made it a breeze. We’re thrilled with our new home and the top-notch service we’ve received. Highly recommend UMEGA to anyone looking for a smooth and efficient rental process.

  • Liza Cespedes

We are very happy with Umega letting for around 3 years with them! Here are the points:
1. They reply emails very promptly!
2. Their maintenance is very good, once you report a repair, they will arrange it with email confirmation and mentioning the engineer detail
3. The termination service is sooo smooth. We sent our request two days ago and they confirmed it today, with the potential withdrawal money for our paid rent! Today is Friday, they said the money will be in our account on Monday, what an amazing service! We can’t be more recommending this to you!

  • Zhoulei Peng

Great service today. Shower wasn’t producing any hot water. The engineer came out, checked it all out and bought a replacement shower. Working well now. Very happy with the service. Also fixed my leaking tap. Didn’t expect it all to be done so quickly. Very pleased with the service today.

  • Lesley Meikle
  • March 14, 2024
  • by Evan Murphy

Rent restrictions come to an end next month

The dynamics of the housing market are changing quickly. This is a knock-on effect of the current political and economic turmoil having a significant impact on borrowers’ ability to buy their next home.Looking at Rightmove data on the Edinburgh sales market, the emerging pattern is a far cry from the doom and gloom most predicted for 2023 after interest rates started climbing sharply a few months ago. In terms of new listings and offers accepted, there’s plenty of activity in the market to give buyers and sellers confidence for the year ahead. New pricing strategies will be playing a key factor in keeping the market moving but in short; the market is much healthier than many feared just a couple of months ago.

View full article
  • March 14, 2024
  • by Evan Murphy

Off Market Sales

The dynamics of the housing market are changing quickly. This is a knock-on effect of the current political and economic turmoil having a significant impact on borrowers’ ability to buy their next home.Looking at Rightmove data on the Edinburgh sales market, the emerging pattern is a far cry from the doom and gloom most predicted for 2023 after interest rates started climbing sharply a few months ago. In terms of new listings and offers accepted, there’s plenty of activity in the market to give buyers and sellers confidence for the year ahead. New pricing strategies will be playing a key factor in keeping the market moving but in short; the market is much healthier than many feared just a couple of months ago.

View full article
  • February 29, 2024
  • by Evan Murphy

Edinburgh Rental Market Update - March 2024

The dynamics of the housing market are changing quickly. This is a knock-on effect of the current political and economic turmoil having a significant impact on borrowers’ ability to buy their next home.Looking at Rightmove data on the Edinburgh sales market, the emerging pattern is a far cry from the doom and gloom most predicted for 2023 after interest rates started climbing sharply a few months ago. In terms of new listings and offers accepted, there’s plenty of activity in the market to give buyers and sellers confidence for the year ahead. New pricing strategies will be playing a key factor in keeping the market moving but in short; the market is much healthier than many feared just a couple of months ago.

View full article
  • January 23, 2024
  • by Evan Murphy

The Emergency Cost of Living Rent Cap is coming to an end in April

The dynamics of the housing market are changing quickly. This is a knock-on effect of the current political and economic turmoil having a significant impact on borrowers’ ability to buy their next home.Looking at Rightmove data on the Edinburgh sales market, the emerging pattern is a far cry from the doom and gloom most predicted for 2023 after interest rates started climbing sharply a few months ago. In terms of new listings and offers accepted, there’s plenty of activity in the market to give buyers and sellers confidence for the year ahead. New pricing strategies will be playing a key factor in keeping the market moving but in short; the market is much healthier than many feared just a couple of months ago.

View full article

FAQs: Interested in renting a home with Umega

You can go onto our property search page and find the property you like. Click on the Book a Viewing button and just select a date and time. You’ll receive a confirmation email and a text on the day to remind you.If we’ve not managed to set up a viewing slot with the current tenants it won’t offer you any viewing days/times so instead you can enter your details and register for updates.

After the viewing, the viewing agent will send you a link with an application form. Make sure to fill the form as quickly as possible (before 5pm on the day of the viewing if you can). We aim to send all offers to the landlord the next working morning for their review and decision.

In your application we will need details on: who will be living in the property, your employment and your address history. If you are in a competitive situation for a flat then it can also help to offer slightly more for the monthly rent. This can help make your application stand out, all other things being equal. Using additional comments to tell us about yourselves in the application may also increase your chances by giving a personal touch.

If your application is successful, we will ask you to pay the security deposit. Once paid, we will begin referencing you. Be prepared, you will be asked to provide three years’ worth of address history and employment details. We would look for applicants to be permanently employed and meet the affordability criteria (gross monthly income meets at least 2.5 times the monthly rent). If this is not the case then the landlord may still accept the application but you should expect to provide a UK based guarantor or pay a larger deposit and 3-6 months rent in advance. 

No, none whatsoever.

We normally ask for a security deposit equivalent to 1 month’s rent + £250 unless it is agreed with the landlord to hold a larger amount (to be negotiated at the offer stage). If you have a pet, we may require a larger security deposit. The maximum deposit cannot be higher than an equivalent of 2 months rent. 

Yes. We will conduct a credit check and request an employer and previous landlord reference (where one or both of these is not possible, if you were a homeowner or are self-employed, we may request references from other parties). We use Amiqus to conduct our credit checks – this is a soft credit check which will not affect your credit score.

The guarantor must meet the affordability criteria (annual gross salary = 36 times the monthly rental amount). The guarantor must provide their last 3 months bank statements via open banking. If a guarantor is self-employed we can accept a letter from their accountant. A soft credit check will be carried out therefore, the guarantor must not have any credit issues. Guarantors are required to provide the following references: proof of income, copy of photo ID, proof of current address. Please note we only accept UK based guarantors who have resided in the UK for the last 12 months at a minimum.

FAQs: Moving in to a Umega home

Your deposit will be held by Safe Deposits Scotland, a government approved third party scheme. – https://www.safedepositsscotland.com/

Yes, we use a third party, Pinstripe, to carry out inventories. You will have 7 days to check, make any comments and sign the inventory after you move into the property.

A Private Residential Tenancy (PRT). In its simplest form, a tenancy agreement is a legal binding contract between the landlord(s) and tenant(s), outlining all of the contractual obligations of both parties. If you sign a lease with multiple tenants, you are all joint and severally liable, this means that all of the tenants (and guarantors) on the tenancy agreement are jointly responsible for all tenancy liabilities including rent or any breach of tenancy. If a tenant wishes to serve notice to end your tenancy you need to have agreement from all joint tenants before doing so.

FAQs: Living in a Umega Home

It is the tenant’s responsibility to set up a standing order to pay the monthly rent. Please set your standing order up to pay us a couple of days before your monthly rent due date in order for the rent to clear in our account before the rental due date. If you set up your standing order on the rent due date, your rent could be late every month and you may receive penalty charges.

No, your monthly rent payment should be paid in full from one bank account. If you’re sharing with flatmates, please nominate one person to pay us each month and please transfer your portion of rent to them a day or two before this date.

    • Contents Insurance – You are responsible for the insurance of your own contents and accidental damage to the landlord’s belongings. It is a requirement of your tenancy agreement that you MUST hold adequate contents insurance for the property. 
    • Telephone/Broadband/Television – You are responsible for payment of a TV license if you use a TV in the property.
    • Utility Suppliers – You are responsible for setting up and informing suppliers the day your lease begins. You will need to pro with meter readings (see inventory for readings and suppliers) and your personal details. 
    • Council Tax – You are responsible for setting up and closing your council tax account, even if you are a student. You may be exempt but you must still notify the council that you reside in the property. Edinburgh council can be contacted at [email protected]
  • Maintenance – If you notice any maintenance issues when you move in, please report these as well as noting them on the inventory, this way we can be sure they will be actioned.

 

If you have a maintenance issue at your property simply click the Report a Repair button on our website and follow the instructions and guides. Our tenants find they can resolve many maintenance issues by following the guides available on our website. If you follow these steps and are still unable to resolve things you can raise a maintenance ticket and a property manager will deal with it. Please note, changing batteries in smoke alarms and lightbulbs are a tenant responsibility and do not need to be reported.

  • What is an Emergency? – It is our view that an emergency situation is when the incident is dangerous, life-threatening or may result in personal injury or a public liability claim or serious deterioration of the property. If you have an emergency situation, for example, water coming through the ceiling, we will endeavor to help you as quickly as possible. Please raise the issue on Fixflo as soon as possible.
  • What do I do if I have an emergency out of office hours? We employ a third party to manage our portfolio outside of our office hours. Please raise an emergency via FixFlo and the team will assist.
  • Gas – If you smell gas or suspect a leak, call the Gas Emergency Services immediately on 0800 111 999 (24 hours). Open all windows and doors and if necessary vacate the property. Do not turn on any electrical appliances or switches. 
  • Electrical Fault – If you have no power, first check fuses have not blown, that the circuit breakers are in the ‘ON’ position and that there hasn’t been a general power cut in the area.
    • If your neighbours supply is still on – check your trip switch (if you have one). If it has tripped, switch off all your appliances then reset it
    • If your neighbours also have no power – call your local Electricity Network Operator’s 24 Hour Emergency Helpline. Scottish Power Energy Networks – 0800 092 9290 (landline) or 0330 1010 222 (mobile)
  • Heating & Hot Water – If you think your boiler isn’t working properly, first check to see if the pilot light is on and, if you have a combi boiler, check that the pressure is set between 1 and 2. The instruction manual will tell you how to relight the pilot light and reset the pressure if you suspect this is the problem. If you don’t have a manual on hand, you can find these online by searching for the boiler make and model number. 
  • Leaks – For small leaks which can be caught in a container, please ensure that you put a bucket or similar container below the leak and remember to empty it regularly. Please then contact us during office hours. If you suffer a burst pipe or severe water leaking into the property you must firstly locate the stopcock and turn off the water and mop up all surface water as quickly as possible to prevent damage. Raise an emergency issue on FixFlo and we will then arrange a plumber to attend as soon as possible. If water is coming from an upstairs property, alert the occupants above immediately and ask them to shut off the source of the leak. If they are not in, leave them a note to contact you and call your local Environmental Health Department (0131 529 3030 / 0131 200 2000) and ask for the water ingress team. 

Locked out? – If you have locked yourself out of the property, please call a locksmith for assistance, if it is actioned by our emergency team, the invoice is likely to be much more expensive than a local company and you will be charged.

Condensation is created when a property is not ventilated well enough and becomes evident when there is a difference in temperature between inside and outside. It is a tenant’s responsibility to make sure that condensation and mould does not build up in a property. To help with this, we suggest the following: Ensure trickle vents are open on windows, open windows to ventilate every day (especially after bathing/showering and whilst drying your washing or cooking), wipe down excess water on windows and ensure you are properly heating the property.

If your property has its own garden you are responsible for the upkeep of this as long as the landlord has provided you with the necessary tools to do so. There may be a contract with a stair cleaning company to maintain the communal stair, if so, it is the tenants responsibility to pay for this. If there is no contract in place, it is up to all occupants to ensure the stair is kept clean and tidy. Any work to communal areas can take some time as they need to have approval from all owners for the work to go ahead, please be patient when there is a communal repair needed.

FAQs: Time to move on

Please notify us by completing the form here. If you are on a PRT lease, you must give 28 days notice.  For further information on Private Residential Tenancies, the Scottish Government have produced an “Information for Tenants” guide: https://beta.gov.scot/publications/private-residential-tenancies-tenants-guide/

No. The deposit is held against the property to cover damage and settle any outstanding amounts at the end of the tenancy.

o I need to do in the run up to moving out or on the move out day?

  1. Take utility readings and give them to your supplier. We do not do this for you, so please finalise your bills.
  2. Change the address for your council tax, and make sure that you move any exemptions or discounts to your new address.
  3. Disconnect your phone, broadband and any television packages or other services at the property. Remove any equipment including modems-you cannot reclaim this after the checkout inspection is carried out.
  4. Do not leave anything in the property- this includes toiletries, stickers on walls, furniture, bedding, food and beverages etc. Unfortunately you cannot leave any items in the property even if you have made private arrangements with the next tenancy, so please make sure that you have a copy of your inventory and have removed everything before the checkout inspection.
  5. If you know that you have damaged anything in the property, or you think that items might be missing from the inventory, then replace these or have them repaired before the checkout, as it will probably save you time and money not to wait for us to deal with it for you. If in doubt, ask your relationship manager.
  6. Do not cancel your rental standing order until after the final payment is made. Your deposit MUST NOT be used to pay your final month’s rent. If you vacate part of the way through the month, then our accounts team will be in touch directly to confirm the final amount due.
  7. You must get the keys to the office by 9am the day following the lease end date, otherwise locks may be changed, new keys cut and you may become liable for the costs involved. Don’t forget to include any parking permits and garage or car park fobs! If keys are not returned to us, charges will be applied to your deposit, so get in touch with us if you anticipate any problems with this.

When your tenancy is over and you have vacated the property, we will carry out a check out inspection where we assess the condition of the property at the end of your tenancy compared to the start of the tenancy, by using the inventory – you are welcome to attend, please just let us know if you would like to. If any cleaning or work is required at the property then you will be notified and the necessary work ordered. Once the invoices come back from our contractors we can then notify the Tenancy Deposit Scheme provider of the final balance (if any) to be billed against the deposit held. This process can take up to 30 working days but we will do it as quickly as we can.

Want to talk to our Lettings team? contact us today!













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