Landlord registration in Scotland has been compulsory since 2006; registration is through the Scottish Landlord Register or via your local authority. Changes are now being made to registration, due to come into force on 16th September 2019.
Read on to find out:
- Why is landlord registration in Scotland changing?
- What exactly is changing?
- What you need to do now, as a landlord
- How we can help you
Why is landlord registration in Scotland changing?
The changes to landlord registration in Scotland follow a Scottish Government public consultation, held last year. Responses indicated broad support for requiring landlords to provide more information about compliance with specific legal duties, particularly those relating to property condition and safety.
The changes to landlord registration in Scotland therefore aim primarily to ensure landlord compliance, as well as aiding local authorities in deciding whether an application should be approved. Overall, it is hoped that standards across the Scottish private rental sector will be improved.
What’s changing?
The revised application for landlord registration in Scotland will require more detailed information about the applicant and about the property – ARLA have compiled a list of the changes. You can also see the regulations in full: The Private Landlord Registration (Information) (Scotland) Regulations 2019
The main points that landlords should be aware of are the requirements for their property to comply with:
- The Tolerable Standard
- The Repairing Standard
- Fire and carbon monoxide safety
- Gas and electrical safety
The property must have:
- Energy performance certificate (EPC)
- Insurance and common repairs on tenement property
- Legionella risk assessment
- HMO licence if appropriate
In addition:
- Advertising must display the landlord registration number and EPC rating
- Deposits must be lodged with an approved scheme, if the property falls under the Tenancy Deposit Scheme (Scotland) Regulations 2011.
Fees
The changes to the registration process allow for a possible change in registration fee structure; currently landlord registration in Scotland requires a principal fee of £65 and a property fee of £15 per property. A £130 late fee is applied as required.
What do you need to do now?
It’s good news for all our At Home in Edinburgh landlords – as part of our management service we already make sure that you and your properties comply with all current legislation and standards. The changes to the registration process don’t require any additional certification or assessments; they simply involve a more detailed confirmation of the existing requirements.
If you’re considering applying to register as a landlord then you need to ensure you have all the required certification in place, so that you and your property are compliant. If you’re already registered, then you won’t need to do anything until your renewal, which is required every three years.
As the responsibility of processing landlord registration applications lies with local authorities, the City of Edinburgh Council now need to advise how they will be managing this. It may be as simple as landlords ticking checkboxes or may require the submission of proof of compliance.
How can At Home in Edinburgh help?
While the list of required property standards, safety standards, certification and assessments may seem daunting, you may find that you already have many of them in place. Our team of property professionals are here to help, so please give us a call if you’ve any questions.
If you’re finding that all the compliance requirements are taking up too much of your time and energy, then we can arrange all certification on your behalf. We offer a range of property management services, covering short term, long term letting and festival letting, and we’ll work with you to tailor our approach to fit your needs and those of your tenants and guests.
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