People can be worried about having private rented housing next door, or in their stair. That's understandable. Tenants may change more often than owners, so you don't get to know them so well, they don't know the arrangements for rubbish collection or stair cleaning, and if there are problems or maintenance issues, it is not as easy to contact a landlord as an owner who lives on the premises.
But the private rented sector is important to provide housing for people in various situations - young people saving up to buy, people who move frequently for their work, as well as those who simply prefer renting as their long-term home. And a lot of private rented housing is good quality and well-managed, by landlords who take a very professional approach. However, there can be problems, and the Scottish Government is putting schemes in place to make sure that all private rented housing comes up to a good standard.
The key initiative, from the point of view of neighbours, is landlord registration. All landlords now have to be registered with the local authority, to make sure they are "fit and proper" to let houses. Every rented house or flat will be on the register, with an address where you can get in touch with the owner or the agent who manages the property. Find out more about landlord registration.
The information on this section of the website is divided into sections for landlords and for tenants. Both cover similar material on management issues, physical issues and money issues, setting out the legal requirements and good practice. If you have a particular concern these sections may help you understand what landlords and tenants should do.