FOREWORD
Improving the condition and energy efficiency of the common parts of housing in the private sector is a key policy priority for the Scottish Government. Over a third of Scotland's population lives in a flat, maisonette or apartment, and properties of this type have been identified as being more likely to suffer from disrepair.
As a result, arrangements for the management of common repairs are critical to the condition of a large part of our private housing stock. It's clear that residential property managers have a crucial role to play in maintaining and improving stock condition. Similarly, land maintenance companies have a key role to play in ensuring the quality of public spaces.
Ultimately, the consumer must have trust in the services provided by their property manager or land maintenance company.
The Office of Fair Trading ( OFT) published a report on its study of the property management market in Scotland in February 2009. The report concluded that a form of self regulation was desirable, backed up with better information for consumers and a robust complaint and redress service. The OFT recommended that the Scottish Government take the lead in ensuring implementation of a self-regulatory scheme. The report also said that we should consider statutory regulation if voluntary self regulation was not proving effective.
There is broad consensus in Parliament that improved service for the consumer should be a priority. The Scottish Government wants to explore every potential means of improving standards of service. I continue to take a keen interest in the passage of the Member's Bill being promoted by Patricia Ferguson MSP in this area. I support the outcomes it seeks to achieve. We will consider further statutory regulation if the voluntary scheme does not produce the results that we need.
Since March 2009, the Scottish Government has been working in partnership with representatives of the property management industry and other key stakeholders to develop a national, voluntary accreditation scheme.
The accreditation scheme will be open to all sectors offering property management and land maintenance services. This includes private firms, housing associations, local authorities, sheltered housing and land maintenance companies, including land-owning land maintenance companies.
The next stage in the development process will be identification of a suitable host organisation to run the accreditation scheme, which we want to launch this year. I would like to take this opportunity to thank our partners for their work in developing these draft core standards, which are now offered for your comment.
Alex Neil MSP, Minister for Housing and Communities