Please note our opening hours over the Festive Season.
Thursday 22nd December - 9am to 5.30pm
Friday 23rd December - 9am to 12.30pm
Monday 26th December - CLOSED
Tuesday 27th December - CLOSED
Wednesday 28th December - 11am to 2pm
Thursday 29th December - 11am to 2pm
Friday 30th December - 11am to 2pm
Monday 2nd January - CLOSED
Tuesday 3rd January - 11am to 2pm
Wednesday 4th January - resume normal working hours (9am to 5.30pm)
Have a Merry Christmas and Happy New Year from all at Cullen!
Tuesday 20 December 2011
Friday 9 December 2011
Competition!
Do you fancy £50 hard cash?
All you have to do to enter our competition is email susan@cullenproperty.com with your name and address, you will then be entered into a prize draw to become our Tenant Profile for our December's Tenant Newsletter.
All subsequent entries will be kept for future prize draws for Tenant Profiles. Remember to keep up to date via our Facebook and Twitter.
The winner for this edition will be announced next week.
Good luck!
All you have to do to enter our competition is email susan@cullenproperty.com with your name and address, you will then be entered into a prize draw to become our Tenant Profile for our December's Tenant Newsletter.
All subsequent entries will be kept for future prize draws for Tenant Profiles. Remember to keep up to date via our Facebook and Twitter.
The winner for this edition will be announced next week.
Good luck!
Wednesday 7 December 2011
Looking for accommodation for next year?
We haven't got past Christmas as yet, however experience has taught us here at Cullen that our student tenants start looking for accommodation for next year very soon!
Looking for flats to rent in Edinburgh can often be a stressful experience for students, however we try to make it as simple as possible by giving as much information as we can about the properties themselves as well as viewing times. All this information will be seen at Cullen Property and Facebook, as well as links via Twitter.
So to make sure that you don't miss out when our Student Property List 2012 becomes available, Like/Follow us on our Facebook and Twitter pages.
We will also be making our viewing times available online to help you get to see the properties you want to see.
Looking for flats to rent in Edinburgh can often be a stressful experience for students, however we try to make it as simple as possible by giving as much information as we can about the properties themselves as well as viewing times. All this information will be seen at Cullen Property and Facebook, as well as links via Twitter.
So to make sure that you don't miss out when our Student Property List 2012 becomes available, Like/Follow us on our Facebook and Twitter pages.
We will also be making our viewing times available online to help you get to see the properties you want to see.
Tuesday 29 November 2011
How to Keep Your Property Safe This Winter
Whether you are staying in your rental property over the Festive period or heading off to visit family and friends, it is important to make sure you have made preparations to keep your property safe over the winter months.
The biggest threat being the weather, which can cause all sorts of problems such as burst pipes etc.
We, at Cullen, have put together a list of tips to make sure your property is well protected from the weather and also from a security point of view:
- Keep your heating on for two hours twice a day to keep the pipes warm, and also to reduce the problem of dampness in your property. (Especially if you are leaving the property for some time).
- Put a light or two on a timer so it looks like there is someone staying in the property over the time you are away from the property.
- Make sure all windows and doors are properly closed and locked. This includes closing all internal doors, as this helps to retain heat.
- Use all available locks on flat doors as these hinder thieves.
- Ask any friends that are staying in Edinburgh if they can pop in to check the property and collect post from the back of the door to reduce the risk of a fire hazard.
- Do not leave appliances on standby and unplug all plugs. (Especially items such as phone chargers, hair straighteners, toastie machines etc).
- Do not leave valuables in clear sight of windows or doors, take them with you if possible. Otherwise store them in a hidden place.
If you are at all concerned about leaving your property over the winter months please do not hesitate to contact us and we will be happy to assist you.
The biggest threat being the weather, which can cause all sorts of problems such as burst pipes etc.
We, at Cullen, have put together a list of tips to make sure your property is well protected from the weather and also from a security point of view:
- Keep your heating on for two hours twice a day to keep the pipes warm, and also to reduce the problem of dampness in your property. (Especially if you are leaving the property for some time).
- Put a light or two on a timer so it looks like there is someone staying in the property over the time you are away from the property.
- Make sure all windows and doors are properly closed and locked. This includes closing all internal doors, as this helps to retain heat.
- Use all available locks on flat doors as these hinder thieves.
- Ask any friends that are staying in Edinburgh if they can pop in to check the property and collect post from the back of the door to reduce the risk of a fire hazard.
- Do not leave appliances on standby and unplug all plugs. (Especially items such as phone chargers, hair straighteners, toastie machines etc).
- Do not leave valuables in clear sight of windows or doors, take them with you if possible. Otherwise store them in a hidden place.
If you are at all concerned about leaving your property over the winter months please do not hesitate to contact us and we will be happy to assist you.
Friday 18 November 2011
How to Prevent Mould and Dampness in Your Home
One of the most reoccuring issues we see in our properties is mould and dampness, and this usually occurs in bathrooms.
The cause of mould and dampness is condensation and there are four reasons why condensation occurs:
1) There is alot of moisture,
2) There is not enough ventilation,
3) There is not enough insulation,
4) There is not enough heating.
In which case, to make sure that your home is not plagued by condensation you can do the following:
- keep rooms ventilated frequently, by opening windows or switching on extractor fans,
- make sure the rooms are heated frequently,
- dry laundry outside or in a ventilated room,
- cover cooking pans to keep moisture levels down.
The cause of mould and dampness is condensation and there are four reasons why condensation occurs:
1) There is alot of moisture,
2) There is not enough ventilation,
3) There is not enough insulation,
4) There is not enough heating.
In which case, to make sure that your home is not plagued by condensation you can do the following:
- keep rooms ventilated frequently, by opening windows or switching on extractor fans,
- make sure the rooms are heated frequently,
- dry laundry outside or in a ventilated room,
- cover cooking pans to keep moisture levels down.
Friday 11 November 2011
What's On in Edinburgh This Weekend
If you are stuck for things to do this weekend and the thought of Christmas shopping is too much, then have a look at the following link: http://www.skiddle.com/whats-on/Edinburgh/?dt=2.
Thursday 27 October 2011
Council Tax Exemption
For the student tenants that have moved over the Summer, hopefully you have now settled down and enjoying your new property.
Now is the time to have made sure that you have contacted the City of Edinburgh Council to make them aware you are students and therefore exempt from paying Council Tax.
We at Cullen would have contacted the Council at the start of your lease to let them know you have moved in, however it is up you as tenants to contact the Council if you are exempt from paying .
This is due to Data Protection and you will be sent a form (one per property) to complete by everyone living in the property. You then need to send this form back and once you have received a Certificate of Exemption, you are no longer liable for the Council Tax.
If you have not carried out this process, you will receive bills from the Council and will do so until you have your Certificate of Exemption.
Details for the contacting the City of Edinburgh Council are:
http://www.edinburgh.gov.uk/contact
Now is the time to have made sure that you have contacted the City of Edinburgh Council to make them aware you are students and therefore exempt from paying Council Tax.
We at Cullen would have contacted the Council at the start of your lease to let them know you have moved in, however it is up you as tenants to contact the Council if you are exempt from paying .
This is due to Data Protection and you will be sent a form (one per property) to complete by everyone living in the property. You then need to send this form back and once you have received a Certificate of Exemption, you are no longer liable for the Council Tax.
If you have not carried out this process, you will receive bills from the Council and will do so until you have your Certificate of Exemption.
Details for the contacting the City of Edinburgh Council are:
http://www.edinburgh.gov.uk/contact
Thursday 20 October 2011
Why Renting is 'So Hot Right Now!'
You may have seen that there has been alot of press regarding 'Generation Rent' with many mixed reviews.
Cullen give two good reasons as to why renting is a great way to live:
1. The freedom to move from property to property. This is obviously much harder to do if you are tied into a mortgage and then you also have the hassle of trying sell the property; where as with renting you have a choice as to whether you stay or leave at the end of the lease. Also, the lease length can usually be negotiated after the first 6 months, so instead of having to commit to a further 6 or 12 months, you can extend for a couple of months giving flexibility.
2. When things go wrong it is up to the Landlord to sort the problem. This will not apply if the tenant has been at fault, however if for example a faulty boiler breaks down, it is the responsibility of the Landlord to repair. In which case, no hefty bills to the Tenant for general maintenance issues.
The way people are living is changing and we are moving away from the 'need' to own your own home to the ease of renting, as the whole point of renting is to make the property your home.
Cullen give two good reasons as to why renting is a great way to live:
1. The freedom to move from property to property. This is obviously much harder to do if you are tied into a mortgage and then you also have the hassle of trying sell the property; where as with renting you have a choice as to whether you stay or leave at the end of the lease. Also, the lease length can usually be negotiated after the first 6 months, so instead of having to commit to a further 6 or 12 months, you can extend for a couple of months giving flexibility.
2. When things go wrong it is up to the Landlord to sort the problem. This will not apply if the tenant has been at fault, however if for example a faulty boiler breaks down, it is the responsibility of the Landlord to repair. In which case, no hefty bills to the Tenant for general maintenance issues.
The way people are living is changing and we are moving away from the 'need' to own your own home to the ease of renting, as the whole point of renting is to make the property your home.
Thursday 6 October 2011
Why Edinburgh is a Great City
Following on from last week's blog, we at Cullen have decided to focus on why we think Edinburgh is a great City to live in. Hopefully we will have included some things you didn't know about, as well as ideas for activities to do!
Where to start... Edinburgh has an abundance of places to visit, such as:
- The Zoo - not only can you see all the animals at Edinburgh Zoo, they also have different events on throughout the year from sleepovers at Halloween to Firewalking to raise money for charity.
- The Castle - the Great Hall is also a must see up at the Castle.
- Ghost Tours - Mary Kings Close is a popular one, however there are a number of ghost tours that take you around Edinburgh's Old Town.
- Camera Obscura - a very fun day out with illusions that will make your head spin!
- Carlton Hill - great for a walk with views across to Fife.
- Arthurs Seat & Salisbury Crags - another great walking area with outstanding views across Edinburgh.
- Dynamic Earth - after a brisk walk up Arthurs Seat, head down to Dynamic Earth where you will learn about our amazing planet.
http://www.edinburghzoo.org.uk/http://www.edinburghcastle.gov.uk/index.htm
http://www.realmarykingsclose.com
http://www.camera-obscura.co.uk/
http://www.dynamicearth.co.uk/
Where to start... Edinburgh has an abundance of places to visit, such as:
- The Zoo - not only can you see all the animals at Edinburgh Zoo, they also have different events on throughout the year from sleepovers at Halloween to Firewalking to raise money for charity.
- The Castle - the Great Hall is also a must see up at the Castle.
- Ghost Tours - Mary Kings Close is a popular one, however there are a number of ghost tours that take you around Edinburgh's Old Town.
- Camera Obscura - a very fun day out with illusions that will make your head spin!
- Carlton Hill - great for a walk with views across to Fife.
- Arthurs Seat & Salisbury Crags - another great walking area with outstanding views across Edinburgh.
- Dynamic Earth - after a brisk walk up Arthurs Seat, head down to Dynamic Earth where you will learn about our amazing planet.
http://www.edinburghzoo.org.uk/http://www.edinburghcastle.gov.uk/index.htm
http://www.realmarykingsclose.com
http://www.camera-obscura.co.uk/
http://www.dynamicearth.co.uk/
Thursday 29 September 2011
UK voted the worst place in Europe to live - we don't think so!
The Scotsman today published an article on the UK being voted the worst country to live in Europe. Well we can think of 10 reasons why the UK if the best place to live in:
1. The history - the UK has an ancient and interesting history with all the battles between Scotland and England, with the castles to prove it!
2. The countryside - from the Highlands to the rolling English countryside, there is nothing like the Autumn when all the leaves start to change colour to show the contrast between the red and auburns against the green grass.
3. The architecture - there is an abundance of beautiful architecture in the UK from the historic buildings in Edinburgh to the thatched cottages in England.
4. The weather - there are some advantages to our four seasons! For skiers and snowboarders the ski slopes in Scotland are a winter haven and for sun worshipers, the beaches in Cornwall could give the French Riviera a run for it's money.
5. The Universities - the UK boasts a number of the world's best Universities.
6. The Royal Family - the Royals are a fascinating family and you can not help but be intrigued with their traditions and way of life.
7. The NHS - often the topic of criticism, however we are incredibly lucky to have the NHS where anyone can walk into any hospital in the UK and receive free healthcare.
8. Sport - you can do just about anything in the UK from surfing in Devon to hillwalking in the Highlands, as well as Scotland being the home of golf (St. Andrew's), as well as being having the oldest golf course (Musselburgh) in the world.
9. The food - we are spoilt with an array delicacies from haggis to jellied eels!
10. Places of interest - the UK has an abundance of interesting places to visit, here are just a couple of suggestions; Stonehenge, Loch Ness, the Lakes, the Dungeons of London and Edinburgh, the Palaces (Buckingham and Holyrood), the Uffington White Horse, Wallace Monument, the numerous castles dotted around the UK.
Another reason for luck - we are a country of inventors from the telephone to penicillin.
http://thescotsman.scotsman.com/uk/Pricey-gloomy-and-busy-UK.6844468.jp
1. The history - the UK has an ancient and interesting history with all the battles between Scotland and England, with the castles to prove it!
2. The countryside - from the Highlands to the rolling English countryside, there is nothing like the Autumn when all the leaves start to change colour to show the contrast between the red and auburns against the green grass.
3. The architecture - there is an abundance of beautiful architecture in the UK from the historic buildings in Edinburgh to the thatched cottages in England.
4. The weather - there are some advantages to our four seasons! For skiers and snowboarders the ski slopes in Scotland are a winter haven and for sun worshipers, the beaches in Cornwall could give the French Riviera a run for it's money.
5. The Universities - the UK boasts a number of the world's best Universities.
6. The Royal Family - the Royals are a fascinating family and you can not help but be intrigued with their traditions and way of life.
7. The NHS - often the topic of criticism, however we are incredibly lucky to have the NHS where anyone can walk into any hospital in the UK and receive free healthcare.
8. Sport - you can do just about anything in the UK from surfing in Devon to hillwalking in the Highlands, as well as Scotland being the home of golf (St. Andrew's), as well as being having the oldest golf course (Musselburgh) in the world.
9. The food - we are spoilt with an array delicacies from haggis to jellied eels!
10. Places of interest - the UK has an abundance of interesting places to visit, here are just a couple of suggestions; Stonehenge, Loch Ness, the Lakes, the Dungeons of London and Edinburgh, the Palaces (Buckingham and Holyrood), the Uffington White Horse, Wallace Monument, the numerous castles dotted around the UK.
Another reason for luck - we are a country of inventors from the telephone to penicillin.
http://thescotsman.scotsman.com/uk/Pricey-gloomy-and-busy-UK.6844468.jp
Thursday 22 September 2011
The Hardships of Renting a Property
Whilst the majority of the press has been focused on how first time buyers are struggling in the recession with very few mortgages being available, little has been said about the first time renter.
They can face as many hurdles and barriers to getting a home as someone looking to buy. Yes the amount of money varies; however for anyone that has just left school or university to find a job in any city in the UK, will find that whether it be an additional £500 or £5000 to pay upfront before getting the keys to a home, will be just as difficult.
As a renter, you need to have enough money to pay the deposit and first month's rent upfront, and for those that are looking for employment tend to have to pay more as an additional security for the landlord.
The other issue facing renters these days is securing a property in the first place. There has always been a great amount of competition in the rental market so getting to view a property in the first place can be a difficult task
Obviously the good news about renting is should anything go wrong in the property such as a boiler breakdown, it is down to the landlord to make sure it is repaired in a reasonable time-frame and they pay for it.
Also there are not the constraints of buying a property and for some the moving from property to property on a 6 monthly basis is all the fun!
They can face as many hurdles and barriers to getting a home as someone looking to buy. Yes the amount of money varies; however for anyone that has just left school or university to find a job in any city in the UK, will find that whether it be an additional £500 or £5000 to pay upfront before getting the keys to a home, will be just as difficult.
As a renter, you need to have enough money to pay the deposit and first month's rent upfront, and for those that are looking for employment tend to have to pay more as an additional security for the landlord.
The other issue facing renters these days is securing a property in the first place. There has always been a great amount of competition in the rental market so getting to view a property in the first place can be a difficult task
Obviously the good news about renting is should anything go wrong in the property such as a boiler breakdown, it is down to the landlord to make sure it is repaired in a reasonable time-frame and they pay for it.
Also there are not the constraints of buying a property and for some the moving from property to property on a 6 monthly basis is all the fun!
Wednesday 14 September 2011
Helping Tenants Save Money
While there are now hundreds of websites that offer fantastic deals to help you save money on a number of different activities; we at Cullen have tried and tested some of them and wanted to share the best of them.
www.livingsocial.com/edinburgh
www.itison.com/edinburgh
www.todaysgreatdeal.com
www.groupon.co.uk
The above sites tend to offer an array of different activities such weekends away to track days in supercars, where as the below site is more dedicated to eating out:
www.5pm.co.uk
www.livingsocial.com/edinburgh
www.itison.com/edinburgh
www.todaysgreatdeal.com
www.groupon.co.uk
The above sites tend to offer an array of different activities such weekends away to track days in supercars, where as the below site is more dedicated to eating out:
www.5pm.co.uk
Wednesday 7 September 2011
Freshers Week
Well it has come to the time of year when students all over Edinburgh are preparing themselves for a week of fun and games with Freshers Week.
Edinburgh Napier University are already half way through theirs, however if you are going to be joining Edinburgh University or Heriot Watt University their Freshers Week starts this Saturday:
http://eusalive.co.uk/freshers/
http://www.hwunion.com/content.asp?group=6
There are plenty of things to do with some fantastic excursions.
It is also the perfect time to get information on any society or group that you wish to join as the Universities have a great range of activities from netball to film societies.
Edinburgh Napier University are already half way through theirs, however if you are going to be joining Edinburgh University or Heriot Watt University their Freshers Week starts this Saturday:
http://eusalive.co.uk/freshers/
http://www.hwunion.com/content.asp?group=6
There are plenty of things to do with some fantastic excursions.
It is also the perfect time to get information on any society or group that you wish to join as the Universities have a great range of activities from netball to film societies.
Friday 2 September 2011
Keep Your Property Secure
It is very important to make sure that you keep your property and belongings secure, and we have some tips for doing just that.
Lock your door with all available locks - this may seem obvious, however many people just leave their property with just the yale locked. The majority of our properties have a yale and mortice lock on the flat door, and it is the the mortice lock which is a much safer lock as it is harder to break into a property with this lock on. Using all available locks should be done both when you are out of the property and at night time.
Close all windows - again this is something that should be done while you are out of the property and at night time.
Keep all expensive gadgets etc out of plain view - especially if you are in a ground floor property as these could easily be seen by passers by.
Put lamps on a timer - as the nights are drawing in at this time of year you may want to put lamps on a timer to give the impression that someone is in the property. This would be a good idea to do if you are going to be leaving the property over a weekend or longer.
Make sure you have the right type of insurance for your contents in place in case the worst does happen.
Lock your door with all available locks - this may seem obvious, however many people just leave their property with just the yale locked. The majority of our properties have a yale and mortice lock on the flat door, and it is the the mortice lock which is a much safer lock as it is harder to break into a property with this lock on. Using all available locks should be done both when you are out of the property and at night time.
Close all windows - again this is something that should be done while you are out of the property and at night time.
Keep all expensive gadgets etc out of plain view - especially if you are in a ground floor property as these could easily be seen by passers by.
Put lamps on a timer - as the nights are drawing in at this time of year you may want to put lamps on a timer to give the impression that someone is in the property. This would be a good idea to do if you are going to be leaving the property over a weekend or longer.
Make sure you have the right type of insurance for your contents in place in case the worst does happen.
Wednesday 24 August 2011
House Insurance
Insurance is usually at the bottom of the priority list when people are moving, as often the setting up of the broadband account, making sure the car permits are in place, and the check in appointment has been confirmed etc, tend to come first.
However, it is important to make sure that you have the right insurance cover in place and on time.
The building itself and the Landlord's own contents are insured by the Landlord, meaning it is just your own contents that you will need to insure.
Once you start looking into all the different policies, you will see that the insurance companies cater for the individual; for example if you are musically minded, the company will offer insurance to cover the replacement or repair of musical instruments if yours is damaged or stolen.
Another issue to bear in mind is the Accidental Damage and Negligence option that you can choose to include in your contents insurance. This does increase the amount of money that you will pay for your insurance, however insures your belongings as well as the Landlord's if you inadvertantly damage any of their contents and/or the property itself.
For example, if a tap is left on and the property is flooded, the damage could include floorings, decoration and contents (Landlord and/or Tenant's). The costs of replacing or repairing any of these issues will be covered by the insurance if this option is chosen at the time of purchasing the tenant's contents insurance.
Choosing the Accidental Damage and Negligence option is often a far cheaper alternative to the possible costs if anything were to happen as an accident in the property, and we highly recommend it!
There are a number of companies offering Tenant insurance nowadays, including Banks, so we recommend that you check out the following links if you are looking at getting your insurance sorted out:
www.endsleigh.co.uk
www.letsure.co.uk
http://www.hsbc.co.uk/1/2/personal/insurance/home-insurance
However, it is important to make sure that you have the right insurance cover in place and on time.
The building itself and the Landlord's own contents are insured by the Landlord, meaning it is just your own contents that you will need to insure.
Once you start looking into all the different policies, you will see that the insurance companies cater for the individual; for example if you are musically minded, the company will offer insurance to cover the replacement or repair of musical instruments if yours is damaged or stolen.
Another issue to bear in mind is the Accidental Damage and Negligence option that you can choose to include in your contents insurance. This does increase the amount of money that you will pay for your insurance, however insures your belongings as well as the Landlord's if you inadvertantly damage any of their contents and/or the property itself.
For example, if a tap is left on and the property is flooded, the damage could include floorings, decoration and contents (Landlord and/or Tenant's). The costs of replacing or repairing any of these issues will be covered by the insurance if this option is chosen at the time of purchasing the tenant's contents insurance.
Choosing the Accidental Damage and Negligence option is often a far cheaper alternative to the possible costs if anything were to happen as an accident in the property, and we highly recommend it!
There are a number of companies offering Tenant insurance nowadays, including Banks, so we recommend that you check out the following links if you are looking at getting your insurance sorted out:
www.endsleigh.co.uk
www.letsure.co.uk
http://www.hsbc.co.uk/1/2/personal/insurance/home-insurance
Thursday 18 August 2011
Forwarding Mail
If you have just moved into one of our properties you will find that you will be inundated with mail for previous tenants.
We do advise our tenants to put a redirection service in place, however this can sometimes be missed with all that is happening when people move.
When you receive any mail that is not in your name please forward this on to our office and we can send it on to the right people.
It is illegal to open someone else's mail, so we want to make sure our tenants are doing the right thing!
Mail that is marked to The Occupier is OK for tenants to open, however we would recommend that if you are not sure whether the mail is relevant to you please pass it on to our office.
We do advise our tenants to put a redirection service in place, however this can sometimes be missed with all that is happening when people move.
When you receive any mail that is not in your name please forward this on to our office and we can send it on to the right people.
It is illegal to open someone else's mail, so we want to make sure our tenants are doing the right thing!
Mail that is marked to The Occupier is OK for tenants to open, however we would recommend that if you are not sure whether the mail is relevant to you please pass it on to our office.
Friday 29 July 2011
Super Fast Broadband Offer from Virgin Media
Cullen Property are delighted to offer to all of their student tenants a fantastic opportunity to get super fast broadband as well as receive £35 credit for doing so! The offer is with Virgin Media and all you have do is contact them and quote the reference 16639 or you can pop into our office and complete a form which we will forward on to Virgin Media.
They also have another offer of free installation to any new customer on any of their services that are installed on or before the 31st July.
Available to cable and non-cabled areas.
http://www.virginmedia.com/
They also have another offer of free installation to any new customer on any of their services that are installed on or before the 31st July.
Available to cable and non-cabled areas.
http://www.virginmedia.com/
Friday 18 February 2011
Facebook & Twitter
We are now on Facebook and Twitter so keep updated with what's happening with our Student Property List for 2011 by clicking on the icons found on our website.
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