A research stay or conference season: finding an apartment for a few months

Published 2026-10-25

Much of what the innovation centre did depended on people moving between organisations: an engineer from a building firm spending a few months in a university lab, a postdoctoral researcher joining a demonstrator project, an industry partner coming over for a season of workshops and conferences. The research part of such a stay is usually planned months ahead. The flat rarely is. This guide sets out how renting for a few months works in Scotland, using official sources current in October 2026.

Start with the host institution

Before looking at the open market, ask your host. Several Scottish universities keep a small stock of short-stay rooms for visiting staff and researchers in their residences; the University of Glasgow, for example, tells visitors that finding accommodation in the city "can be very challenging", advises starting early for longer stays, and points short-term visitors to its limited short-stay accommodation. A host department may also know of colleagues letting a room while on sabbatical. Across Europe, the EURAXESS network of service centres for researchers offers free help with practical questions, accommodation included.

How renting works in Scotland: the private residential tenancy

Since 1 December 2017, most new private lets in Scotland are private residential tenancies (PRT). They have no fixed end date, which suits a short stay better than it sounds:

the tenant can end the tenancy at any time by giving at least 28 days' notice in writing (allow two extra days if the notice is sent by letter or email), and can move out at any time after giving notice; a shorter period is possible if the landlord agrees in writing;
the landlord, by contrast, can only end it on specific legal grounds, with at least 28 days' notice during the first six months.

In practice, a four-month stay can be a normal PRT that you end with a month's notice. Be wary of any landlord who insists you must sign up for a full year and pay for it if you leave early: that is not how a PRT works.

What a landlord or agent can and cannot charge

No fees. Under section 82 of the Rent (Scotland) Act 1984, a landlord or letting agent cannot require a tenant to pay anything other than rent and a refundable deposit. Administration fees, credit-check fees, key money and non-refundable holding deposits are illegal premiums, and you can ask for them back.
Deposit capped at two months' rent. It must be lodged with one of the three approved schemes (Letting Protection Service Scotland, mydeposits Scotland or SafeDeposits Scotland) within 30 working days of the start of the tenancy, and you must be told which one. If it is not, the First-tier Tribunal can order the landlord to pay up to three times the deposit.

Check the listing before you pay anything

Short-stay seekers arriving from abroad are a favourite target of rental scams. Three checks take five minutes:

Landlord registration. Private landlords in Scotland must be registered with their council, and the registration number should appear in adverts. Search the property's postcode on the free Scottish Landlord Register; if nothing comes up, contact the council.
The deposit route. A request to send the deposit by money transfer to a private account, before any viewing or contract, is a warning sign.
A video or in-person viewing. If you cannot visit, ask your host department or a colleague to view it for you.

Serviced apartments and holiday lets

For stays of a few weeks, or for the conference weeks themselves, a serviced apartment or holiday let is often simpler: furnished, bills included, no tenancy to end. It is also more expensive per month, and it is not a PRT, so the protections above do not apply. Two Scottish rules are worth knowing:

since 1 October 2022, new hosts have needed a short-term let licence from their council before operating, and existing hosts had to apply within a transition period that has now ended. A legitimate listing should be able to show its licence number;
the whole City of Edinburgh has been a short-term let control area since 5 September 2022: renting out a flat that is not the host's own home as a short-term let normally needs planning permission. Edinburgh in August, when the festivals fill the city, is the hardest month of the year to find anywhere at a sensible price; book early or stay in a neighbouring town with a good rail link.

Preparing your file

For a standard tenancy, landlords and agents choose between applicants quickly, and a complete file usually wins over an early enquiry. For a visiting researcher, that means having ready: a letter from the host institution confirming the dates of the stay and, where relevant, the funding; proof of income or of the fellowship; identification; and a reference from a previous landlord. (England's "right to rent" immigration checks do not apply to lets in Scotland.) Asking a colleague in Scotland to act as a contact point reassures landlords who are hesitant about tenants they cannot meet.

A short checklist

Ask the host institution about short-stay rooms before anything else.
For a tenancy: expect a PRT, give 28 days' notice to leave, pay no fees, and expect your deposit (two months' rent at most) to be protected.
Check the landlord on the Scottish Landlord Register, and a short let's licence number.
Avoid paying anything before a viewing and a written agreement.