Finding a home to rent or buy

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There are different types of property you can rent or buy. Homes for sale or rent are normally advertised online.    

We have homes that are: 

• Detached - a stand-alone home that doesn't share any walls with other houses 
• Semi-detached - a home that is attached to one other house 
• Terraced - A home that is part of a row of houses 
• Bungalows – a home that has only one floor, with no stairs or upper levels 
• Flats or apartments – a home within a bigger building 
• Studio flats - a small apartment with one main room that combines the living area, bedroom, and kitchen. It usually has a separate bathroom. 

You should look at different property types to decide what meets your needs and budget.  

Houses that are for sale or rent should have an Energy Performance Certificate (EPC). You can check the EPC for the building's 'energy efficiency rating'. This gives you an idea of how much fuel bills are likely to be. 

Where to live in Scotland

It’s a good idea to compare prices in different regions of Scotland. Renting in Scotland's cities can be challenging, especially in popular areas like Edinburgh and Glasgow. This is because there are more people looking for homes to rent and prices are higher, so it’s a good idea to start your search early. 

It might be easier and cheaper to find somewhere to live outside of a city.  

To help you decide where to live, you can check the: 

• Information on Scotland’s cities
• Guide on Scotland’s 15 regions

Check what transport there is by looking at online maps. You can also find advice on getting around Scotland.

Finding a home to rent

Homes for rent are normally advertised online. There are laws in place to protect you and you’ll have rights when renting. 

Landlords and letting agents in Scotland cannot ask about your immigration status. Checks of your ‘right to rent’ are valid in England but are not allowed in Scotland. 

Find out more about renting a home (mygov.scot)  

You can also check Shelter Scotland’s guide to finding a private rented home (scotland.shelter.org.uk) 

Before you agree to rent a home, it's a good idea to know your rights and responsibilities. 

Find out more about: 

• Your rights when renting a home
• Your responsibilities when renting a home

For more information on obtaining social or private rental accommodation, visit the renting a property page (mygov.scot)

Find information on how your immigration status affects your housing options (scotland.shelter.org.uk)

Student accommodation

Some universities manage their own accommodation for students. This type of accommodation is often called 'halls of residence'. Halls of residence are often made up of several flats.  

Normally, a few students will share a kitchen. Each person will have their own bedroom and bathroom.  

If you live in halls of residence, there is normally a choice about whether you make all your own meals or whether some meals are provided for you as part of the cost of your accommodation.  

'Self-catering' means you make all your own meals. 'Half-board' means some meals are provided. 'Bed and breakfast' means your breakfast is provided but you make your other meals.  

Some students prefer to live in rented flats or houses provided by private landlords, instead of by universities. Usually, a few students share one flat or house. You can find people to share with on websites like SpareRoom (spareroom.co.uk)

Find out more about student accommodation.

Buying a home in Scotland

If you're looking to buy a home when you arrive in Scotland, there are many excellent options. Your dream home is closer than you think!  Most properties are sold through estate agents or solicitors (lawyers). When buying a home, you’ll need a solicitor to do the legal work. 

Find out more on Shelter Scotland’s guide on buying a home (scotland.shelter.org.uk)

When buying a home in a new country, there are many things to consider. Money Helper has a section about potential cost of buying a home in Scotland (moneyhelper.org.uk).

Moving costs

You can find information on what you expect to pay for associated house buying fees to information on removal companies. They also have some helpful information on what you’ll need to consider when renting a home (moneyhelper.org.uk)

Finding somewhere temporary to live

Are you still looking for that perfect place? Whether you want a city centre flat or a countryside bungalow, finding a new place to call home is an important part of any move. There’s a range of accommodation available to stay in until you find your perfect new home. For example:

• Hotel chains
• Bed and breakfasts
• Caravans
• Yurts
• Eco-lodges
• Apartments 

Find out more about temporary places to stay (visitscotland.com)

Temporary accommodation might not always have an Internet connection. Many cafes and restaurants have free Wi-Fi that you can connect to on your own device.

Most local libraries also have free Internet and PC computers you can use. You need to sign up for a membership to use the computers.

Check if your immigration status lets you get benefits and help with housing

You can check if your immigration status lets you claim ‘public funds’. Public funds include: 

• Payments from the UK Government or Scottish Government to help you with living costs, sometimes known as benefits or social security 
• Applying for social housing, which is housing rented out by the council 
• Getting homeless help from the council  

If you cannot claim public funds, there might be other support you can get. You might also be able to apply to get access to public funds. 

Check if your immigration status lets you get benefits and help with housing (citizensadvice.org.uk)

Header image photo credit: VisitScotland / John Duncan