What is mid market rent?
Mid market rent (MMR) aims to help people who are on low to moderate incomes, and who would otherwise be unable to afford to purchase property in the current market.
To qualify you must meet the income criteria set by the Local Authority. Where the Local Authority hasn’t provided an income criteria this will be set (for 2025) at between £26,000 and £58,000 (before tax). If you are making a joint application, income will be calculated as a household.
We advertise on the Citylets website – www.citylets.co.uk You can register on the Citylets website to receive alerts for when a property matching your search criteria becomes available. When properties are available, you can complete the HfL+ application form through the link on www.citylets.co.uk
You need to complete the HfL+ application form if you wish to apply for a mid market rent property with us, as additional information is required on your circumstances. Once your completed application form has been received, we will assess it and check all the information you have provided. We will ask for proof of your income (such as wage slips or tax returns, bank statements etc) with your application form.
Adults living in the property must provide proof of income, whether or not they will be named on the tenancy agreement unless they are family members living in the property who are not their partner (for example a child of working age or an elderly relative). In this case they are only required to provide proof of income if they are named on the tenancy as a joint tenant.
You will be contacted if you are being considered.
We will need to see:
Copies of the last 3 month’s pay slips
Bank statements covering the last 3 months to confirm income.
You must also make sure that you can afford the rent. To do this we make sure that the monthly rent is not more than 35% of your monthly income after tax.
We will ask your permission to approach your present or former landlord for a tenancy reference, and to approach your current employer to confirm your employment status and salary. We will also carry out a credit check.
You can read the HfL+ allocation policy in the publications section of this website.
The Private Resident Tenancy (PRT) was introduced by the Scottish Government as the standard tenancy agreement for private residential tenancies created on or after 1st December 2017.
The purpose of the PRT is to improve security, stability and predictability for tenants and provide safeguards for landlords. PRT tenancies are open-ended, meaning no initial fixed-term, and ‘no fault’ evictions have been abolished so tenants can only be evicted for specific wrongdoing.
PRT rent levels can only be increased once in 12 months.
The process for ending tenancies has been simplified; tenants are required to give 28 days’ notice regardless of how long they have been in the property.
For more information, Shelter Scotland's website or read the Scottish Government's guidance for tenants.
No, our properties are not furnished. Details of any floor coverings, blinds or white goods provided with a property will be outlined on individual property adverts.
A deposit of one month’s rent is required before entry. This is a security deposit and will be retained to meet the costs of any damage/disrepair caused to the property by the tenant or for any unpaid rent after the property has been vacated. We will protect this deposit by transferring the funds to an Approved Scheme under the Tenancy Deposit Scheme (Scotland) Regulations.
At the end of the tenancy, you will need to agree with us how the deposit should be allocated. Our Tenancy Deposit Scheme provider will then repay the deposit under the agreement unless there is a dispute between us over the deposit allocation. If there is a dispute, the Scheme provider will ask for evidence from all parties as to how they feel the deposit should be allocated. It will then carry out an adjudication process and issue a draft report for review by all involved.
The rent will normally be higher than that for a comparable social rented property, but lower than privately rented property. Usually, 80% of the local housing allowance. You can find out more about the local housing allowance on the East Lothian Council website.
Homes for Life Housing Partnership is managing the properties for the landlord, Homes for Life Plus, and will ensure the accommodation meets the Government Repairing Standard for private housing at the start of your tenancy and at all times during the occupancy. The tenant will be liable for the cost of repairs where the need for them is due to their fault or negligence or that of any person residing with them or any of their guests. Full details of the respective repairs responsibilities (yours and ours) will be issued to you as part of the allocation process.
You must apply for permission to keep a pet. We will usually give permission to keep pets, but the tenant must be aware that it is their responsibility to clean up after their pets and any damage caused by pets will be charged to the tenant.
The property size offered will be appropriate for the household composition. Allocations should not result in significant under occupancy or overcrowding. We will normally allow for no more than one additional bedroom which could be utilised for working from home.
Yes, the applicant and their household must use the property as their permanent and only home.
Yes, references from your current landlord and employers (where appropriate) will be obtained prior to an offer being made.
On top of satisfactory tenancy references we will also carry out a credit check. In addition, photograph identification must be provided by all applicants prior to an offer being made. This must be in form of an up-to-date driving licence or passport.
If you would like to make a complaint or raise a concern you can:
- Phone us on 01620 829300 during office hours.
- Email us at info@homesforlife.co.uk
- Use the Contact Form on our website.
- Visit us during office opening hours or write to use at:
Homes for Life Plus
Tolbooth Gate
57 Market Street
HADDINGTON
EH41 3JG
We will deal with a straightforward complaint within 5 working days and will contact you to let you know the outcome. If the complaint is more complicated and needs some investigation, we will resolve this within 20 working days.
Our properties are not available for purchase.
If you have any questions you can ask them by emailing enquiries@homesforlifeplus.co.uk or calling 01620 829300 during office hours.
