Only limited information is available to members of the public through the website. On entering a property's address, a member of the public can view:
- name of landlord;
- name of agent (where applicable);
- contact address for the property.
On entering a landlord's name and address, the system confirms whether or not that person is registered, but will not list their properties.
Telephone numbers and email addresses are not made available through the website. These are only used for the local authority to contact the landlord with any queries about their application.
Other information, such as the landlord's home address or a list of rented properties in an area, may be provided to enquirers by the local authority if it considers it appropriate. Such requests must be considered in accordance with the Freedom of Information (Scotland) Act 2002. However, information will not be released if doing so would breach data protection principles.
If landlords themselves are registered, why does every property they own have to be listed on the register as well?
Registering landlords will achieve the aim of giving tenants assurance of fit and proper management. But registration also aims toallow tenants and neighbours to contact the landlord or agent should problems or issues around common repairs or antisocial behaviour arise. It also aims to produce a complete picture of the nature and extent of the private rented sector. These aims can only be achieved by listing the addresses of all rented properties on the register.
Why should landlords' details be available over the internet?
The purpose of making the register public is to allow tenants and neighbours to make legitimate contact with landlords, for example to report problems or organise common repairs. Only the public contact address selected by the landlord will be available over the Internet. The local authority will have more detailed information about landlords. This information will only be given out if the local authority considers the request appropriate, under freedom of information and data protection rules.
Information is available online because there is an assumption that all public services should be available electronically in order to maximise accessibility.
Why not hold one register centrally rather than a separate one in each local authority?
Local authorities are best placed to understand the features of the private rented sector in their area, to gain information on landlords who may not be registered and other problems, and to take enforcement action. This fits well with their other responsibilities relating to antisocial behaviour, HMO licensing and homelessness, for example. The information obtained through registration will feed into Local Housing Strategies which are drawn up by local authorities to make sure there is a sufficient amount of the right type of housing in each area.