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Private landlords registration
12/07/2005
A
consultation on
proposals to protect private sector tenants and to
tackle antisocial behaviour by registering Scotland's
landlords was launched today.
Deputy Communities Minister Johann Lamont said that
anyone who owns a house or flat which is rented out will
have to register with their local authority and it will
become an offence to rent out property without being
registered.
The consultation paper focuses on detailed proposals
developed by a working group representing local
authorities, landlords, agents and consumer interests, with
a view to bringing a scheme into force later this year
under the Antisocial Behaviour Act.
Ms Lamont said:
"Most private landlords provide an excellent service for
their tenants and make an important contribution to
housing, but a few do not. Those who exploit poor or
vulnerable tenants, or exacerbate problems with antisocial
behaviour in communities, damage the reputation of private
letting.
"Our scheme would allow local authorities to ensure that
those who let out property are fit and proper people, but I
am keen that a 'light touch' approach is adopted and that
applicants are regarded as fit and proper unless there are
grounds to suggest otherwise.
"We are seeking to provide a single, online system for
local authorities to use, which will allow applications to
be handled in a consistent way and make the process as
streamlined as possible."
The registration scheme would:
- assess whether landlords and agents are fit to
manage in a proper manner
- provide a list of properties let by or on behalf of
private landlords
- make it an offence to let out a private property
without being registered
- allow local authorities to stop rental income of
unregistered landlords.
Alongside registration, the paper covers a further power
for local authorities to use in combating antisocial
behaviour. It will allow them to act against individual
landlords who fail to use normal good practice to address
antisocial behaviour by their tenants.
There are exceptions to registration requirements which
include houses used by religious orders, certain categories
of care regulated by the Care Commission, agricultural and
crofting tenancies.
The income from fees is broadly expected to cover the
costs of the scheme. Each local authority will set its own
fees within a statutory framework. A starting assumption
for discussions of £50 is suggested for the principal
fee.
The scheme would be co-ordinated with other initiatives
affecting landlords, with holders of HMO licences
automatically placed on the register.
The consultation is available at:
http://www.scotland.gov.uk/Publications/2005/07/08172434/24352.
Responses are invited by September 23.