The Registration Scheme Has Let Scottish Landlords Down

Three years ago the Government authorities launched a new registration scheme, when it became evident that one in four landlords had not registered the rental property. However, now Shelter Scotland says that the scheme does not work effectively and needs amelioration. Graeme Brown, director of Shelter Scotland, insists that there is a strong necessity in reinforcement of the scheme, although the government says it works properly; still many tenants are expelled, threatened, and raped. Graeme Brown confessed to BBC that responsible landlords paid money every year to sign up to this scheme for the sake of protection from illegal activists, who disrupted the rented sector and the reputation of landlords in general. John Blackwood, director of the Scottish Association of Landlords, completely agrees with Graeme Brown and says that the Government stayed inactive, although it was informed of unregistered landlords. No wonder that responsible landlords in future will start to doubt whether it is really necessary to register the property. The Government should solve the problem of illegal landlords; otherwise there is no point in having compulsory landlord registration scheme. John Socha, vice chairman of the National Landlords Association, comments that charges of the government applied to landlords are unacceptable. At the beginning of their activity landlords have to pay a commission and another burden of is simply unjust. If a landlord in London and the South East intends to renew the tenancy agreement, he or she can be charged to pay around 11 per cent of the annual rent as a renewal commission to the letting agent. That is why taking into consideration the work of the compulsory landlord registration scheme, there is no use in paying for nothing. Moreover, when signing contracts with letting agencies, landlords should check the small print and if there are any controversial clauses, negotiate them carefully. The letting agency may refuse to do so; if this is the case, landlords should consider applying to another agency.