The locks to all 4 gardens will change on 24th October 2025. You will need new keys to get into and out of the gardens. The work will start at 9am to change locks. We have written to every property with forms to complete for the collection of new keys. If you are an owner or Feaur living in the Feu there is a simple form. If you are a landlord or tenant you need to complete the forms providing landlord authorisation. Existing outside subscribers (the scheme is now closed) will have a different form and these have also been mailed out or hand delivered to your property. Further copies of forms and gardens are available in the boxes below notice boards in Moray and Bank Gardens.
New keys can be collected on Thursday 24th October from 2pm to 7pm , Friday 25th October 4pm to 7pm and Saturday 26th October from the hall of 5 Ainslie Place. Please read the forms carefully and bring the necessary evidence of ownership/ residence and cash if you wish to buy additional keys. Details below.
If you are unable to make the above dates key exchange will be possible after 28th October via Whitelaw Wells.
Lord Moray Feu Gardens – Gate Lock & Key Change
We plan to change the locks on the entrance gates for the Randolph, Ainslie, Moray Place and Bank Gardens on the morning of Thursday 24 October, 2024. At this point existing garden keys will no longer open the gates.
Members of the Gardens Management Committee will be available to provide new keys at the entrance to 5 Ainslie Place during the following times:
- Thurs 24 Oct: 14.00 – 19.00
- Fri 25 Oct: 16.00 – 19.00
- Sat 26 Oct: 10.00 – 12.00
If you are unable to attend during any of these times then you will need to contact Sandra Thomson at Whitelaw Wells from Mon 28st Oct onwards. Please do not go to Whitelaw Wells before this date, as they won’t have the new keys and so won’t be able to do the exchange for you.
To ensure a smooth process we would be grateful if you can comply with the following requirements when attending to change your keys:
- Please bring a form of ID along with proof of address
- Please bring all your old keys
- If you are a Resident Property Owner (Feuar) please bring a completed copy of the form provided in Attachment 2
- If you are a Tenant please bring completed copies of the forms provided in Attachment 3a and Attachment 3b
- If you are an Outside Subscriber please bring a completed copy of the form provided in Attachment 4
- If you currently only subscribe to the Front Gardens and wish to add access to the Bank Garden please bring a completed copy of the form provided in Attachment 5
Please note that we will not be able to issue new keys unless you bring the required documentation. More information regarding the lock and key exchange is contained in the Frequently Asked Questions in Attachment 1. If you are having difficulty filling in the forms, a limited amount of support will be available for 4 weeks prior to the key exchange. In the first instance please send your query by email to infrastructure@morayfeu.com
Thank you
LMF Gardens Management Committee
Attachment 1: Key Exchange FAQ
1. How many new keys will be issued? – New keys will initially be issued on a like for like basis up to a maximum of two keys. This is to ensure we have enough new keys to go round. These will be issued without any charge. If you wish to have a second key but can only provide one old key this can be obtained at a non-refundable cost of £20 in cash at the time of exchange.
2. What happens if I return more than two old keys?- If you return more than two old keys then we will only issue two new keys. We will however retain these keys along with a note of how many you returned so that you can get them back (at no charge) when this set of keys are next used.
3. Why do Tenants need to complete an additional form? – Under the titles to properties in the Moray Feu it is the property owners (Feuars) who are entitled to have keys to the gardens and the GMC can only issue keys to property owners. Property owners are legally liable/responsible for their tenants if the tenants enter the gardens. Hence the tenant can only have access to the gardens if the property owner has given their specific permission. The forms are designed to ensure that this contractual arrangement is understood and freely entered into.
4. Why have you included a form to subscribe to the Bank Gardens? – There are a number of properties that only subscribe to the Front Gardens. The Gardens Management Committee are agreed that, irrespective of the property deeds, there is no reason why an individual Property Owner cannot elect to include the Bank Gardens in their assessments at an additional cost. Completion of the attached form will result in a new key being issued that provides access to both Front and Bank Gardens and you will be given free access to the Bank Garden for the rest of this assessment year. Bank Garden assessments (which are presently calculated at 88% of the Front Garden rate) will be included in the Property Account issued from July 2025 onwards.
5. What happens if I want more than two keys? The Gardens Management Committee are keen to contain the numbers of keys in circulation and have agreed that a cap of two keys per household is a reasonable limit. In accordance with the rules, keys must not be given to 3rd parties. More than two keys may be issued on an exceptional basis. If you believe you have such a case then please send an email to sthomson@whitelawwells.co.uk detailing why you believe you need more than two keys. The Gardens Management Committee will consider any such requests. If it is agreed that more than two keys are required then a non-refundable cost of £50 will be levied for each such key.
6. What if I am away/can’t pick up my key on the designated days? – After these dates, the keys and forms will be held by Whitelaw Wells, 9 Ainslie Place, Edinburgh. You can visit their office from Monday 28st October onwards to exchange your key.
8. Can someone else pick up my key on my behalf? – We would prefer the keyholder pick up the key themselves as ID needs to be provided
9. How will I know that a gate lock has been changed? – The locks will be changed from 9 am onwards on Thursday 24th October.. A notice will be put on each gate to this effect.
10. Can I get a replacement key if I lose my new keys? – Replacement keys can be secured from Whitelaw Wells upon payment of a non-refundable charge of £50.
11. How can I view the Garden Rules that are mentioned in the various Forms provided? The Garden Rules are available on the Moray Feu website. A paper copy of the Garden Rules is placed in the notice boards in each of the gardens and also available to view at Whitelaw Wells.
12. What happens if I have not paid my 2024/5 garden assessment?. If you have not paid your assessment then you will not be able to exchange your keys.
Attachment 2: Form for Resident Property Owner (Feuar) Completion
Name: ………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………
Joint Owner: ……………………………………………………………………………………………………………..
Address: ……………………………………………………………………………………………………………………
……………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………….
Tel. No.: ……………………………………………………………………………………………………………………
E-mail: ……………………………………………………………………………………………………………………..
Dogs: ……………………………………………………………………………………………………………………….
I hereby apply to exchange my keys for the Moray Feu Pleasure Grounds, [Gardens].
I have read and understood the Garden Rules and agree to abide by them.
I have read and understood the Code of Conduct for Dog Owners and agree to abide by the Code.*
I pay assessments by Direct Debit / I annex hereto completed Direct Debit instruction.
I acknowledge that I and any guests of mine who enter and use the Pleasure Grounds / gardens do so entirely at my and their own risk. Furthermore, I hereby fully indemnify the owners, the Gardens Management Committee, Whitelaw Wells, the Secretaries and the gardeners employed in the gardens from time to time from all and every liability whatsoever and howsoever arising out of the use of the gardens by myself and my guests.
I agree that the information I have provided may be retained by the LMF Garden Committee solely for the purpose of communicating to me regarding Garden matters.
………………………………………………………………… Signed by Feuar
………………………………………………………………… Signed by Joint Owner
………………………………………………………………… Date
* Delete for Non-Dog Owner
Attachment 3a: Form for Tenant Completion (1 of 2)
Name: ………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………
Joint Tenant: ……………………………………………………………………………………………………………..
Address: ……………………………………………………………………………………………………………………
……………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………….
Tel. No.: ……………………………………………………………………………………………………………………
E-mail: ……………………………………………………………………………………………………………………..
Dogs: ……………………………………………………………………………………………………………………….
I hereby apply to exchange my landlord’s keys for the Moray Feu Pleasure Grounds, [Gardens].
I have read and understood the Garden Rules and agree to abide by them.
I have read and understood the Code of Conduct for Dog Owners and agree to abide by the Code.*
I annex herewith my landlord’s consent to me being issued with the keys to which my landlord is entitled to as a Feuar.
I acknowledge that I and any guests of mine who enter and use the Pleasure Grounds / gardens do so entirely at my and their own risk. Furthermore, I hereby fully indemnify the owners, the Gardens Management Committee, Whitelaw Wells, the Secretaries and the gardeners employed in the gardens from time to time from all and every liability whatsoever and howsoever arising out of the use of the gardens by myself and my guests.
………………………………………………………………… Signed by Tenant
………………………………………………………………… Signed by Joint Tenant
………………………………………………………………… Date
* Delete for Non-Dog Owner
Attachment 3b: Form for Landlord Completion (2 of 2)
Name: ………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………
Joint Owner: ……………………………………………………………………………………………………………..
Address: ……………………………………………………………………………………………………………………
……………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………….
Tel. No.: ……………………………………………………………………………………………………………………
E-mail: ……………………………………………………………………………………………………………………..
Dogs: ……………………………………………………………………………………………………………………….
Letting Agent: ……………………………………………………………………………………………………………
Address: ……………………………………………………………………………………………………………………
……………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………….
Tel. No.: ……………………………………………………………………………………………………………………
E-mail: ……………………………………………………………………………………………………………………..
I confirm that I am / we are the owner(s) of the above subjects with title in my / our names, registered in the Land Register / recorded in the Sasine Register.
I hereby apply to exchange my keys for the Moray Feu Pleasure Grounds, [Gardens].
I have read and understood the Garden Rules and agree to abide by them.
I have read and understood the Code of Conduct for Dog Owners and agree to abide by the Code.*
I pay assessments by Direct Debit / I annex hereto completed Direct Debit Instruction.
I hereby provide my consent to the keys being issued to my tenant as follows:
Tenant’s Name(s): ………………………………………………………………………………………………………
Feu Address: ……………………………………………………………………………………………………………..
Tenant’s Tel. No.: ……………………………………………………………………………………………………….
Tenant’s E-mail: ………………………………………………………………………………………………………….
Form 3b continued
Dogs: ……………………………………………………………………………………………………………………….
I will ensure that my tenants are aware of and understand the Garden Rules and (if appropriate) the Code of Conduct for Dog Owners and will ensure they abide by the rules and the Code.
I fully indemnify the owners, the Gardens Management Committee, Whitelaw Wells, the Secretaries and the gardeners employed in the gardens from time to time from all and every liability whatsoever and howsoever arising out of the use of the gardens by my tenants and their guests.
I agree that the information I have provided may be retained by the LMF Garden Committee solely for the purpose of communicating to me regarding Garden matters.
………………………………………………………………… Signed by Feuar
………………………………………………………………… Signed by Joint Owner
………………………………………………………………… Date
* Delete for Non-Dog Owner
Attachment 5: Application Form for Bank Garden Access
Name: ……………………………………………………………………………………………………………………..
Joint Owner: …………………………………………………………………………………………………………….
Address: ………………………………………………………………………………………………………………….
……………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………….
Tel. No.: …………………………………………………………………………………………………………………..
E-mail: …………………………………………………………………………………………………………………….
I hereby apply for access to the Bank Garden. I agree to pay the annual assessments due for the Bank Garden for so long as I am the owner of the above subjects.
I agree that the information I have provided may be retained by the LMF Garden Committee solely for the purpose of communicating to me regarding Garden matters.
………………………………………………………………… Signed by Owner
………………………………………………………………… Signed by Joint Owner
………………………………………………………………… Date