Private Landlord Registration in Scotland

 

Private Landlord Registration in Scotland

Private Landlord Registration in Scotland

From 30 April 2006 all private landlords letting properties in Scotland must apply for and gain registration in the register of landlords.

The statutory requirement for landlords to register with the local authority is in terms of Part 8 of the Anti-Social Behaviour etc (Scotland) Act 2004.

How to register

You can apply online at www.landlordregistrationscotland.gov.uk .  By using this method you will receive a 10% discount on your registration fees.  Please note fees must be made electronically at the time of application.

OR

Download a copy of the Landlord Registration Application form (found in the Downloads menu to the right) or request a paper application from the Landlord Registration department (see Contact Details).  You must send a cheque to cover your fees due with the application form.

Registration lasts for 3 years from the date of Approval by Perth & Kinross Council (not the date of application)

Fees Due

Registration of Landlord - £55
Registration of Properties - £11 each

All joint owners are free

Houses in Multiple Occupation (HMO) Licence Holders are free for properties in Perth & Kinross.

Landlords who have properties in more than one local authority will receive a 50 % Consecutive Area Discount on their landlord registration fee (not property fee) in each local authority they register, as long as the application is made to all local authorities at the same time. 

Registered Charities are free

Landlords that apply online via www.landlordregistrationscotland.gov.uk will receive a 10% discount.

Additional fee - Applications made after Local Authority has issued two requests for an application to be made will pay 200% of payable fee (£110) plus principal fee (£55) plus any property fee required.

Please Note

All payments and correspondence must be sent directly to Landlord Registration, 3rd Floor, 2 High Street, PERTH, PH1 5PH.

If you are a landlord and you have applied for registration, please remember you must notify us if your contact details change and to add any new properties to your registration when you let them out

About Landlord Registration

The aim of landlord registration is to ensure that all private landlords in Scotland are 'fit and proper' to be letting residential property.  The requirement helps local authorities to remove disreputable landlords from the market, and protect tenants and their neighbours from the impact of anti-social behaviour and mismanaged property on the wider community.

Sanctions

A landlord who has not registered or applied for registration is committing a criminal offence if they let or attempt to let a residential property or communicate with a person about taking a lease or occupancy of a property.  If these offences are reported to the Procurator Fiscal, a landlord could be subject to a criminal conviction and a fine of up to £5,000.  These sanctions also apply where a landlord has been de-registered by the local authority but continues to let a residential property to a tenant.

Where a tenancy is already in place, the local authority can also issue a Rent Penalty Notice which suspends the payment of rent by the tenant until such time as the landlord has registered. 

If a landlord is judged not to be a 'fit and proper' person, they can be refused registration or de-registered which means that they would be committing a criminal offence if they continue to operate as a landlord.