Wanted: temporary home with own cinema and a designer kitchen

“It’s starting to creep back up — figures were at something like four in May and eight in June — but we still have a way to go before we can call this a recovering market.

“There are, however, a lot of people who have registered their interest in these homes with no plans to buy at the moment. They’re reluctant to jump in with so much uncertainty.”

It seems that many buyers are thinking harder about their next move but want to be able to move quickly and easily when the right home comes up. There is a simple solution: buyers selling up and renting short term.

“People are still looking very consciously to see what the taxation discussion and implementation will be next year,” says Blair Stewart, a partner at Strutt & Parker. “I’ve had buyers looking at multi-million pound houses but deciding to rent for the short term to see how things pan out.”

This new group of renters isn’t going to settle for dodgy decor and tired fixtures befitting student digs. This new breed of moneyed tenants is changing the residential letting market by forcing landlords to raise their game — so it’s no surprise that some of the properties offered on the letting market are found at some of Scotland’s best addresses.

These are the homes that welcome wealthy viewers to walk around their landscaped gardens, complete with built-in barbecues and patios created with social dining in mind. Designer kitchens come as standard — as do a variety of ovens or a teppanyaki hot plate for the amateur chef. Integrated sound systems, statement gas fires and games rooms are popular with well-off renters, say experts, but a property should also balance show-off credentials with home comforts.

Many of these landlords are private owners who have renovated their own property to high specifications before either downsizing or moving abroad and choosing to lease.

One aspect they can’t change, however, is the address, which is a key concern for tenants keen to stay in the best districts of Scotland’s cities.

Here we look at three streets popular with this new generation of tenants and discover the luxury features within some of the homes for rent.

India Street, Edinburgh
Located in the city’s New Town, India Street is just about as central as it’s possible to be. It’s attractive not just because of its close proximity to the high-end bars and boutique shops of George Street (less than a ten-minute walk away) but also its connectivity. Edinburgh Waverley train station is about a £5 taxi fare from the address. The street is home to some complete townhouses, many with their own gardens, which have been developed to extremely high standards with a price tag to fit. Canny developers are on to the fact that this area is the playground of the wealthy and go all out to ensure they have decor to match. Property prices on India Street regularly top the £1 million mark. One full townhouse currently listed with Rettie seeks offers of £1.175 million has five bedrooms, a west-facing garden and living space spread over three floors. But within its rental section, Rettie is also marketing a two-bedroom flat with a sheltered patio, bathrooms featuring designer wallpaper and an opulent interior. Available from the end of the month, 5a is on the market for tenants looking to stay short term. Towels and bed linen are included in the monthly rent of £2,000.

Turnberry Road, Glasgow
While other streets in Hyndland might have grander titles, such as Crown Gardens, or Princes Terraces, Turnberry Road has it covered when it comes to accessibility and fine period houses. Hayburn Park is found to the west while Hyndland Secondary School, which is consistently placed within the top three in Glasgow’s annual school league tables, is located directly opposite. It’s a prime spot for well-off families who want a base in the West End and the ability to shop at independent stores and delis without venturing into the city centre.

Blonde sandstone villas (few on the street are still whole) are extremely sought after, not just on Turnberry Road but in Glasgow generally. In a city where residential properties were historically designed without gardens and with high-rises in mind, it’s rare to find an original house that hasn’t been converted into flats with its own green space. Turnberry Road saw one of the city’s most impressive sales to date when it was home to Glasgow’s first £1 million townhouse, which went up for sale in 2007 at the height of the property boom and sold for £1.35 million.

Culdees, a six-bedroom villa at number 15, is a semi-detached sandstone villa with a study, drawing room and conservatory. It has a cinema room, an integrated home entertainment system by Glasgow firm Linn, a feature gas fire in the lounge and a cast-iron bannister staircase. Its main bathroom features a wall-mounted, anti-mist TV. The property is available to buy for £1.35 million with DJ Alexander — but you can try before you buy, as it is also available to rent at £6,500 a month.

Baillieswells Road, Aberdeen
The Granite City has a booming rental market thanks to its reputation as a leading hub for the energy industry. Many tenants are on short-term contracts and seek luxurious, modern properties. This influx of well-heeled workers has set its sights on Cults, once named Scotland’s most exclusive and expensive enclave, over the past decade but there are other areas worthy of a mention.

Bieldside, the next village on from Cults in the west of the city, is a hotbed of multi-million-pound properties. Houses on Baillieswells Road enjoy more garden space than some in the heart of the town, thanks to their rural location, but are still within striking distance of the International School in Aberdeen. This strengthens Bieldside’s appeal to foreign renters. A four-bedroom home at the top of Baillieswells Road has period features, a garage, and plenty of living space for a large family. It is marketed through Aberdeen Property Leasing for £4000 a month.