Your location: Registration of Private Landlords consultation response
By: Shelter Scotland Published: October 2008
Shelter's response to the consultation on amendments to legislation for the registration of landlords.
- Registration of Private Landlord consultation response (PDF 71.7 kb)
Summary
- Shelter is disappointed that, three years after the introduction of the landlord registration scheme, there is no evidence of any impact on standards, with tenants and landlords having little reassurance that local authorities will act in cases of tenancy mismanagement.
- Shelter believes local authorities have an important role to play in achieving better standards in the private rented sector.
- We believe the Scottish Government should be examining, with local authorities, whether the registration scheme is the best method of dealing with landlord/tenant problems.
- We look forward to seeing how the government intends to put in place and monitor good practice recommendations.
- We have reservations about the widening of the registration scheme, at this time, to include resident landlords, as it is not clear yet that the existing scheme is operating effectively.
- Shelter supports the extension of advice and assistance to tenants who report their landlord as unregistered.
- We are disappointed that further steps are not being taken to ensure the scheme is publicised to landlords and tenants, and especially to encourage tenants to report problems to their local authority.
- We would urge the Scottish Government to work with local authorities for the proper implementation and policing of the scheme, and to ensure the scheme is seen to improve standards in private renting.