The vast majority of landlords have to be registered with the local council. Any landlord who has not submitted a valid landlord registration application is renting the property out illegally.

Members of the public can search the landlord registers of all local authorities to find out whether or not a person or organisation is registered, or to get contact details for a particular rented property.

Before you put pen to lease, make sure your deposit is going into a safeguarding scheme - this is another legal requirement for your landlord.

Ask the landlord or letting agent which scheme they are with before you sign a contract. If you have already moved in and the scheme isn't named on your contract, ask the landlord and get it in writing.

This arrangement means independent third parties protect deposits until they are due to be repaid - the three schemes now operating are Letting Protection Service Scotland, Safedeposits Scotland and My Deposits Scotland.

If the deposit was received after October 2012, your landlord has to pay it into a scheme within 30 working days of the beginning of the tenancy.

Money Saving Expert has great tips on how to ensure you get your deposit back.

The Rent Scotland Act 1984 explicitly prohibits charging a tenant for drawing up a lease or requiring a premium for the granting or renewal of an assured or short-assured tenancy.

Despite this, credit checks are a common bugbear particularly if an estate agent refers you to a third party to have a background check done.

If an estate agent lays out these terms before you have signed a contract, they can be difficult to get around.

Speak to your landlord directly about this and offer to source references yourself. Experian offer a free credit check after signing up for a 30-day trial.

If you have been charged any of the following fees you could claim them back, which you can do through Shelter Scotland's Reclaim Your Fees site:

If your move-in date is some time in the future, arrange to view the property again closer to the date your tenancy begins.

This means you can check the property has been thoroughly cleaned after previous tenants have left, check your flat inventory (which your landlord should provide) and make sure all appliances are in order before you move in.

Your landlord is required to have building insurance but if something goes wrong and damage occurs to your property or there is a break-in, content insurance will help relieve the financial burden.

Check comparison websites for the best deal.

Usually you need to organise your TV license yourself.

But speak to the landlord first, as they may already have a licence for the property. If you live in self-contained accommodation, such as a separate flat or annex, you'll need your own separate licence.

If you are a lodger and have a relationship with the homeowner you'll be covered by the homeowner's TV licence, provided you live in the same building.

You should also ask if there is an existing supplier for phone and broadband - and advise your landlord you would like to change suppliers if you can get a better deal elsewhere.

As with your broadband provider it's best to shop around for your energy supplier - you may receive a letter from the old supplier asking you to set up an account, if one hasn't already been set up in the landlord's name.

Use comparison sites to get the best deal. You could also make money by switching if you buy an energy deal through Top Cashback.

Money Saving Expert advise: "A good way to help you get leverage here is to note down any flaws in the rental. For example, the carpets may be worn in patches, or the bathroom ceiling could do with repainting.

"Point this out, and ask if they'll take a lower price because of it. If not, see if you can get the repairs thrown in (always get this in writing with the contract)."

It can be a bit of a postcode lottery when it comes to housing in Scotland, for both renting and buying. While Aberdeen was listed as one of the most expensive places to live in the UK, Glasgow has recently topped a list of British cities where buying is cheaper than renting.

It's important to weigh the pros and cons of buying - it's a huge decision. Benefits include autonomy from a landlord and the potential for homes to increase in value while downsides like maintenance, tight budgets and fluctuating market values may put homeowners off.

The Money Advice Service has a useful breakdown of costs for prospective buyers and points to bear in mind before you make the commitment.

Here are a few questions you should consider asking your estate agent or landlord.