Cairn Estate Agency

Cairn Estate Agency, established in 1999, operates as a property services company specialising in estate agency, letting, and property management across the East and West of Scotland, with a prominent presence in Edinburgh and Glasgow. The firm was founded by David Rowand, who aimed to provide comprehensive services beyond traditional sales and purchase advice, focusing on maximising returns for property assets through development, refurbishment, letting management, and property maintenance programmes. Initially, Cairn began as a development company, refurbishing and selling properties for clients, before expanding its services to include sourcing and developing properties on behalf of investors. A central tenet of the company's ethos is personal connection, striving to build long-term relationships with clients and aligning the firm's goals with the individual property objectives of its clientele.

The company offers a range of services for landlords, encompassing bespoke letting packages from full property management to tenant-find-only options. This includes assistance with landlord registration, ensuring compliance with relevant legislation, and managing rent and deposit collection. Cairn conducts property inspections and organises necessary ancillary works to meet statutory standards and obtain required certificates. For those looking to sell property, the firm provides free, no-obligation market appraisals based on relevant market data.

The experienced team markets properties on major online portals and negotiates on behalf of clients to achieve desired outcomes. Cairn also caters to the needs of property investors and tenants. For investors, the firm guides both first-time buyers and those with extensive portfolios through the process of property acquisition, development, and management to maximise returns. The company's approach to investment involves sourcing, developing, managing, and selling residential investment properties.

For tenants, Cairn focuses on building relationships to ensure tenancies run smoothly, providing support and a straightforward process for reporting repairs. The company aims to assist tenants in finding suitable accommodation, including student flats in Glasgow, and offers advice for those navigating the rental market. A significant area of expertise for Cairn Estate Agency is the management of Houses in Multiple Occupation (HMOs), a sector in which the company has specialised since 1999. The firm manages fully licensed HMO properties in both Edinburgh and Glasgow, ensuring all licensing requirements are met.

Services in this area include guidance through the HMO application process, fire training, and comprehensive property management. Cairn conducts quarterly inspections of HMO properties to ensure they are maintained to a satisfactory standard, providing landlords with accompanying reports. The company also assists in obtaining necessary certificates such as Energy Performance Certificates, Landlord Gas Safety Certificates, Portable Appliance Tests, Electrical Installation Condition Reports, and documentation for fire safety equipment, smoke alarms, heat alarms, carbon monoxide alarms, emergency lighting, and fire risk assessments. HMO properties are often popular with college and university students seeking affordable off-campus living options.

The firm supports student tenants from the initial stages of moving away from home, offering advice and ensuring properties are fully licensed, regularly inspected, and safe for occupancy.