16/04/2010 - Landlords 'unaware of registration'
Many landlords do not realise they are legally obliged to register with a scheme to rent out homes, members of the Scottish Parliament have heard.
MSPs were told that there needs to be more publicity surrounding the landlord registration scheme. The Local Government and Communities Committee heard from officials from a housing group that many landlords are not aware they have to register with the scheme.
The information came to light as the Holyrood committee was taking evidence on the Housing (Scotland) Bill at stage one.
John Gell, chairman of the Private Rented Housing Forum, said: "I think there are many landlords who simply don't realise they need to register and I think the whole business of landlord registration should be given a much higher profile through publicity. Large numbers of people, tenants and landlords, don't realise landlord registration exists and it is a requirement."
The scheme was introduced four years ago in a bid to ensure all private landlords meet minimum legal requirements.
John Blackwood, a member of the Private Rented Housing Forum, said the organisation had "always been supportive of the principle of landlord registration" but said it was disappointing that "it's not really doing the job it set out to do".
Copyright © Press Association 2010
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