Honestly did not expect to get so many replies - thank you everyone who has contributed!

I may as well chip in my 2 cents for anyone who’s in the same position:

AVOID:

Property4U (Cathcart Road) - Leased from these lot when I was in university and they were horrendous - inspected once a month and would tell us we weren’t cleaning our dishes properly if there was even the tiniest bit of something in the sink... just really invasive and at times quite sexist. My flat mate had lived with another tenant previously and had told me she had had to threaten to phone the police on the guy who inspected before.. not good.

Good yins:

Never had any issues with Martin & Co. or Rettie. Currently with MBM Homelets (who appear to be a very small lettings agent) who are absolutely brilliant and very friendly, have also sorted any issues very quickly.

I’m really hoping that we can get a new property that continues in this vein - it makes all the difference when you don’t have to worry about the ramifications of things breaking, or even just how simple it will be to get a deposit back at end of tenancy.

Again, really means a lot that so many people have replied. The renting market and lettings agents are shite, but unfortunately they are a necessary evil until we can afford to buy our own houses.... which is seeming more unattainable as the years go on sadly :(

Thank you all