Getting your flat ready for the winter

The nights are starting to draw in a little and after a rather spectacularly sunny weekend, we've had the first few autumnal days. Are you thinking of turning on the heating? We certainly are.

Now is the time to check your energy tariff and make sure it's the best it can be for you and the property you're in. Which? have a wealth of advice on saving energy and some really great practical tips. Did you know this one, for example: defrosting freezer food in the fridge acts like an ice pack, allowing the fridge to spend less energy on keeping food cool.

If you find that you should be switching energy suppliers, there is plenty of advice available online, too. The National Union for Students offers student-specific guidance.

Checking a property's energy efficiency rating

However, being clever about saving energy starts even before you move into a flat: check the energy efficiency rating of the property - it should be part of the actual advert. Modern, double-glazed windows help save energy, too. And if you have traditional, single-glazed sash & case windows, purchase some draft excluders to ensure any heat is staying in.

Whilst you don't want to be losing energy to drafty windows and doors, you do have to ensure that your property is not only heated but also vented to stop condensation building on walls and ceilings. Sounds complicated? Feel free to get in touch with our team if you'd like more detailed advice. We're here to help!

Staying safe in your home

It's Gas Safety Week this week. A great opportunity to remind you, our tenants, of our maintenance services and what to do if something isn't right in your flat.

As a matter of course, all gas appliances in any property let through ourselves are checked annually. It's simply one of the things we have to do as lettings agents to stay on the right side of the law. However, checking something annually doesn't prevent it from breaking in between checks.

After all, you wouldn't be overly surprised if your car needed to be fixed in between MOTs. So, what should you do as a tenant?

As a Cullen Property tenant, your appliances are checked regularly. Should you smell gas or think an appliance is faulty, please contact our team who are happy to make arrangements for a 'Gas Safe' registered engineer to come to the property. There are also direct contact details for emergencies on our website.

If you are unsure about your home's safety, check with your landlord. Don't feel awkward - it's your safety that's at stake here. Any responsible landlord will be able to provide a copy of the gas safety certificate, if they haven't done so already and will be happy to explain emergency and maintenance procedures further.

Getting sorted for student life

Just a few days to go until the academic year kicks off in Edinburgh and with your suitcases nearly packed (are they?) to be moved into halls of residence or your student pad, we've prepared a few tips to help you get your student life off to a good start. 

1. Take advantage of Freshers' events

More than just a week of never-ending parties, this is the perfect time to get accustomed to where things are around your university and to meet new friends. You'll also find that there are freebies available at many Freshers' Week events. Take advantage of these and don't overlook all the bits of information you can get, too.

2. Protect your property

If you've just moved all of your favourite belongings into your new home, now's the time to insure them properly. You're no longer living at home, which means you will need your own contents insurance. Your landlord needs to protect their belongings, but you do need to look after your own. And don't forget to protect property that you use outside of your home, such as bicycles, laptops, tablets and mobile phones.

3. Look after yourself

Living away from your parents for the first time can be a little daunting and everyday chores such as food shopping seem pretty boring, but try to stay away from pot noodles eaten seven days a week. Get to know your local supermarkets - many have shelves offering cut-price items with an approaching use-by date. Find out when these shelves are stocked and shop to prepare healthier meals.

4. Make a budget 

With plenty of things to spend your money on on top of your rent, bills and books, ensuring your money lasts all month is crucial. Prepare a lit of your fixed outgoings which will let you see what spending money you have and start shopping around for deals or check out used items which often mean huge savings. 

5. Get some advice

Most universities have a student union, making access to advice easy. There are also plenty of good tips available online and one list we liked is this one detailing 30 mistakes every fresher will make. Enjoy the read - it made us chuckle!

Freshers' Trade Fair is here - come see us on Monday!

It's that time of the year again, when thousands of new students come to Edinburgh to start their academic lives during Freshers' Week. To make the transition into student life a little easier, Edinburgh Uni Students Association (EUSA) are holding a trade fair at Potterrow on Monday, from 11am until 4pm.

We'll be there to answer any questions you may have about finding the perfect student pad. In halls this year? Chat to us anyway to find out what you need to know about renting privately when it's time to move in with friends in year two.

Edinburgh has some fantastic student properties, right where you want them and there is a great choice of properties available. Saying that, the best of those get snapped up pretty quickly.

There are a few pitfalls to avoid, too, and we'll tell you more about them on Monday - and in our next blog post.

Keep your eyes peeled!