06 July 2011
New Protections for Private Tenants
Ensuring your landlord is a 'fit and proper' person
A new law comes into force in Scotland at the end of August which will strengthen the protections available to people renting in the private sector.
The Private Rented Housing (Scotland) Act 2011 extends existing legislation around the registration of private landlords, and particularly around the checks that Local Authorities can carry out in order to ensure that a prospective landlord is a 'fit and proper' person. This will now include the power to carry out Criminal Record Checks in some cases.
Most landlords in Scotland already require to be registered with their Local Authority's 'Landlord Registration Scheme'. The new Act increases the penalty that can be imposed on unregistered landlords up to as much as £50,000.
It is possible to check the status of your landlord by accessing the Scottish Government's Landlord Registration website and searching against their name, or the property address. If you have any doubts about whether your landlord is properly registered you can also contact the City of Edinburgh Council's 'Landlord Registration Team' on 0131 469 5293.
If you would like more information on the new Private Rented Housing (Scotland) Act 2011, or if you have any issue with your landlord or private tenancy that you would like to speak to one of our Housing Advisers about, you can contact EHAP on 0845 302 4607 - or via the 'Contact EHAP' section of this website.
EHAP Partners are Accredited Advice Providers
