The national approval rate for Scotland's Landlord Registration Scheme has risen to 85 percent, up from only 15 percent in April 2007. But the Scottish National Landlords Association (NLA) still urges local authorities to focus on tackling those rogue landlords who are ‘playing' the system and not working within it.
Figures show 131,706 landlords and agents have now applied for the scheme which aims to ensure Scotland's private landlords meet minimum legal requirements.
The news on enforcement and approval rates comes as regulations are laid at the Scottish Parliament aimed at improving the efficiency of landlord registration.
Since 30 April, 2006, private landlords in Scotland have been required to apply to any local authority where they let property for registration.
Recent amendments to the scheme are focused on increasing efficiency and streamlining processes for the benefit of both local authorities and applicants. The key amendments being made include:
- Changes to the fee and discount structure - simplifying the structure for both local authorities and landlords. This will involve increasing the discount for charities from 80 to 100 per cent and changing the discounts available for landlords with portfolios in more than one local authority.
- Modifying the exemptions to the scheme.
- Introducing a duty on local authorities to provide tenants and prospective tenants with general advice on letting and landlord registration when an enquiry is received.
The changes to the Landlord Registration Scheme come in advance of the first batch of renewals, due to begin in March 2009. A registration lasts for three years after which point an application for renewal must be made.
Minister for Communities and Sport, Stewart Maxwell said: “I am extremely pleased to see that the approval rates of applications to the Landlord Registration Scheme now stand at 85 percent.
“There is still work to be done and I want to focus our efforts on enforcing the legislation and removing the worst landlords who continue to give the sector a bad reputation.”
Vincenzo Rampulla, Senior Policy Officer, NLA Scotland, said: “It has taken almost three years for the Scottish Government to get the Landlord Registration Scheme to this point. Although it now covers 80 per cent of the sector, with around 19,000 landlord applications still waiting in the system, and 20 percent of landlords still under the radar, improvements are needed.
“The renewal date is in a few months time and ignorance of the Scottish Landlord Registration Scheme is now a dwindling excuse. The Scottish Government should think about renewing registrations on a longer five year basis to ensure that registration is more than a three yearly fee on responsible landlords.
“And local authorities will now need to focus their efforts on tackling those rogue landlords who are ‘playing' the system and not working within it.”
