WE'RE OPEN
We believe in building trust through transparency. Whether it’s with our customers, suppliers, or each other as colleagues, we keep the lines of communication clear and honest. By being open, we foster an environment where people feel heard, valued, and empowered to contribute their best. From sharing feedback to making decisions, openness is at the core of how we operate and grow together.
WE ACT WITH BRAVERY
Bravery drives us to challenge the status quo. At Umega, we encourage independent thinking and bold decision-making. Whether it’s initiating difficult conversations, embracing new ideas, or staying committed to ambitious goals, we are not afraid to take risks. Bravery helps us navigate challenges head-on, learn from them, and continue moving forward, all while staying true to our purpose.
WE MAKE PROGRESS
Progress is the heartbeat of Umega. Every day, we strive to improve the experiences of both our customers and our team. We’re proactive, never delaying action, and we approach each task with the intent to learn, grow, and advance. For us, progress means continuously evolving and moving towards our shared goals—step by step, always with an eye on the bigger picture.
THINKING POSITIVELY
We believe in the power of a positive mindset. At Umega, we approach challenges with optimism, confident in what we can achieve together. Thinking positively isn’t just about staying upbeat—it’s about believing in our potential, finding solutions, and focusing on what’s possible. This mindset fuels our ambition and inspires us to aim higher for ourselves, our customers, and our community.
UMEGA NET ZERO
We recognise our responsibility to limit the negative impact our business has on the environment and for that reason Umega is proud to be a Net-Zero organisation.
Each year we engage with a Carbon Footprint specialist to develop an in depth understand of our carbon footprint and to identify ways to reduce our carbon output. We go a step further and offset our carbon emissions through a certified carbon offsetting project, compensating for our emissions by funding an equivalent carbon dioxide saving elsewhere, allowing us to achieve a ‘Net Zero’ rating.
We’re currently transitioning our fleet of vehicles over to electric alongside getting our team consciously considering their individual environmental footprint with the aim of reducing our carbon footprint in 2024.
OUR STORY SO FAR
We started from humble beginnings in an office smaller than a garage in Corstorphine what seems like several lifetimes ago. We’ve steadily grown Umega since then earning a reputation as one of Scotland’s leading property agencies.
Here are some of the key points in the Umega story so far:
August 2024
We opened up a new branch on Leith Walk at 94-96 Brunswick Street
January 2024
We moved to our new office at The North Quarter, 496 Ferry Road, Edinburgh
November 2023
We won the Scottish Agency of the year at the Negotiator Awards
November 2023
We won UK Letting Agency of the year at the Negotiator Awards
July 2023
Instructed as managing agent for Edinburgh Council's mid-market rent portfolio, Edinburgh Living
March 2023
Launched our new Home Repairs service
October 2022
Umega has been identified as one of the top estate agents and in the country and now features in the Best Estate Agents Guide
October 2022
Umega has been identified as one of the top letting agents and in the country and now features in the Best Estate Agents Guide
August 2022
Recognised at #66 in top 100 small companies to work for in the UK
June 2022
We’ve gone ‘net zero’ by offsetting 5 tonnes of carbon a month through planting trees in Scotland to help combat climate change
May 2022
Best Companies - We reached 1 Star status with Best Companies Employee Engagement Specialists meaning we have ‘Very Good’ levels of workplace engagement
April 2022
We achieved Carbon Footprint Standard meaning we’re deemed to be an Environmentally responsible organisation
December 2021
We won the hotly contested UK Letting Agency of the year and Scottish Agency of the year at the Negotiator Awards
November 2021
We won the Best Estate Agent Guide's Exceptional award for Lettings!
July 2021
Our first New Homes Sales instruction
February 2021
We started work on the Best Companies framework to measure ourselves against the top companies in the UK.
January 2021
We launched Umega’s Property Sales estate agency service.
October 2020
We were awarded Letting Team of the Year for the 3rd year running at the Scottish Home Awards
March 2020
We switched to remote working and adapted our services in response to the COVID pandemic.
January 2020
Became the highest rated letting agent in the UK on Google
June 2019
Crowned Residential Letting Team of the Year at the Scottish Home Awards for 2nd year running
April 2019
Opened our new Quartermile Headquarters
December 2018
Reach 1,000 properties under management milestone
September 2018
Won Letting team of the year at the Herald Property Awards
June 2018
We were awarded Residential Letting Team of the Year for the first time at the Scottish Home Awards.
January 2018
Letting Agent Registration Commences in Scotland
December 2017
PRT (Private Rented Tenancy) launched in Scotland
November 2017
Became Investors in People Silver Accredited
January 2017
Umega Quartermile opens for business
August 2016
Launch Staff Property Fund - a world first!
November 2015
Become a B Corp Accredited business using business as a force for good - the first accredited private company in Scotland
June 2015
We improved our service offering by hiring our first in-house maintenance technician.
November 2014
We joined ARLA Propertymark and became voluntarily regulated. This helped support higher standards and cleaning up of the letting sector. We also joined the Safe Agent campaign and The Property Ombudsman in the same year.
October 2014
Earned Investors in People and Investors in Young People accreditations
March 2011
Scottish Government introduces compulsory Tenancy Deposit Scheme
May 2009
After a year in Bruntsfield, we moved to a new head office on Marchmont Road that we called home for the next 10 years!
May 2008
We moved to a new Bruntsfield office on the corner of Viewforth and Gilmore Place and we hired our first employee.
September 2007
We changed name from Links Property Management to Umega Lettings. Umega was born!
April 2006
Landlord Register introduced in Scotland
January 2006
Links Property Management is born in Corstorphine. We shared a desk phone that was also a fax machine! The old office is now a hairdresser.