Short term renting in Edinburgh, Scotland, and storage

Hi,
My husband and I are moving to Edinburgh in Sept. 2007.  We want rent for a few months and then buy an apartment once we know area.  We are shipping our furniture from the US, so may be without our items in the US or UK for 6-8 weeks.  My husband thinks it makes sense to try to rent an apartment, have our stuff arrive and brought to our rented apartment, and then when we find a place to buy, ship the stuff again (ugh) to the new flat.  I have a couple questions:

1) Can we rent for six months or less?  We would prefer less.
2) Why are most flats already furnished?  It is easy to find partially furnished or non-furnished or will this be difficult?  The reason is because we will need some of our items as soon as they arrive from being shipped and don't want to keep our stuff in storage, if possible.
3) How can we find out about storage facilities in Edinburgh, if needed?
4) Are there good apartment rental agencies anyone is aware of in Edinburgh?

Thank you!

I can sort-of help with 1) and 2):

1) you should be fine finding a 6-month lease...that's fairly standard. Shorter lets than that are much less common, but it's possible you could find one.

2) Not sure why most flats are let furnished, but you should be able to find a part or non-furnished flat without too much trouble...they're just not as plentiful as the furnished variety, that's all.

1) Can we rent for six months or less? 

Most tenancies are for 6 months or 1 year.   You can get a 6-month one, and if you move out after 4 months, you would possibly have to pay rent for the other 2 months.  

2) Why are most flats already furnished? 

Because there are a LOT of students in Edinburgh, and the majority of them dont have furniture.

3) How can we find out about storage facilities in Edinburgh, if needed?

google it!  there are LOADS!!

4) Are there good apartment rental agencies anyone is aware of in Edinburgh?

I used Countrywide 5 years ago and they were great.  We needed a place that would accept our large dog, and they gave me a  list of at least 12 places within a day or two.

Thanks!  Will most/all rental places charge fees?  I've run across places in the US that are free, and some that charge.  How easy is it to find rentals without using an agency?

I was planning to come over later this month for a job interview and wanted to set up some meetings with agencies to view places, but it seems like a lot of them don't come with you to view all the places?  How does viewing rental work in Edinburgh?

Thanks!  Will most/all rental places charge fees?  I've run across places in the US that are free, and some that charge.  How easy is it to find rentals without using an agency?

Yes, most letting agents charge fees.  And you have to pay them, not the landlord.

Also, don't forget to factor in the cost of council tax.  That isn't included in your rent because the landlord doesn't have to pay it on a vacant flat.  Some places it's included, but if it is, you can bet the rent will be adjusted accordingly to cover that.

Most tenancies are 6 months.

I've never used a letting agency and am leaving Edinburgh in September for good, so don't know of any good ones, but I work with students and many have been burned big time by them, so watch out for hidden fees!

I've only ever let through places where the landlord pays the fees - I've had to pay £70 quid for the reference check, but that's all.  IS Scotland different from down here in this respect?

Vicky

I've only ever let through places where the landlord pays the fees - I've had to pay £70 quid for the reference check, but that's all.  IS Scotland different from down here in this respect?

Vicky

I don't know, I've not used them and hopefully never will.  Just going by experiences of students.

We looked into one once, and the fees were ridiculous.

From experience, however, a landlord will find a way to pass on as much cost as possible to the renter, however.

Hopefully, we'll never have cause to use them.

Something to keep in mind, too, when you buy is that Edinburgh Council has now found a way to solve the bickering among flat/tenement owners regarding structural repairs to their buildings:
they give owners time to sort it out themselves, and if they don't come to a suitable agreement, the council sends in its own contractors to do the repairs and bills the owners accordingly.  They have been given the power to do this after a number of accidents, including a fatal one, involving falling masonry from privately-owned buildings in disrepair.

Some tenement owners in the Bruntsfield area recently received bills of £30,000+ each for masonry and roof repairs.

It may be wise to have any such property you are interested in well-surveyed, particularly if it's older housing stock as many flats are here.