This item was published during the term of a previous administration that ended in April 2007
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Deadline for registration of landlords
06/03/2006
Private landlords in Scotland now have until the end of April to register with their local authority under a new system designed to improve the private rented sector.
To enable landlords more time to submit their applications, the original deadline of March 31 has been extended by a month to April 30.
Landlords will be able to apply online from this Friday. The move follows the need to undertake further testing of one part of the registration system prior to implementation.
Deputy Communities Minister Johann Lamont said:
"Registration of private landlords will improve the private rented sector by removing the worst landlords from the market and giving tenants the confidence that their landlord is upholding minimum standards.
"Landlords need to apply to register with their local authority, and the central system we are putting in place to support this is designed to be as straightforward and user-friendly as possible.
"As we drew nearer to the time of the system going live, we incurred some difficulties when linking the new IT system to facilities for making online payment of fees.
"We want this new system for the registration process to be as robust as possible and we want landlords to have an adequate amount of time to register.
"We have therefore today laid a new Order, extending the date by which landlords must have submitted an application to April 30.
"Landlords will be now able to begin applying online on March 10 and I am confident this will give landlords a suitable period of time to apply to be registered."
Under Part 8 of the Antisocial Behaviour etc. (Scotland) Act 2004, private landlords must apply for registration with their local authority. It will now be an offence to let any house after April 30 without being registered or having applied to be registered. Unregistered landlords face having their rental income withheld or a £5,000 fine.
To place a landlord on their register, the local authority will have to be satisfied that they are a fit and proper person to let property. The authority can take into account any relevant information including:
- any relevant convictions, particularly in relation to fraud, violence or drugs
- any evidence that the applicant has failed to take adequate steps to deal with antisocial behaviour in his or her properties
- any evidence that the applicant has failed to comply with the law relating to housing or letting, including management, money and physical issues
- any evidence that the applicant has practised illegal discrimination in any business activity
- the fact and nature of an agency arrangement for the management of the property
Landlords are required to pay a fee for registration. These have been set by the Executive at a fee of £55 per landlord and £11 per property. The fees are charged to cover the cost of running the registration scheme.
Applications online are quicker and cheaper, with a 10 per cent discount. Paper applications can also be made by contacting the local authority in which the houses let are located.