CIH Scotland calls on Scottish Government to 'up the ante' on PRS regulation

Responding to the Scottish Government’s consultation on the future of the private rented sector (PRS), CIH Scotland said that the growing importance of the PRS meant a strong lead was needed from the Scottish Government to help create a better regulated sector which made a significant contribution to meeting a range of needs in the housing market.

Alan Ferguson, Director of CIH Scotland, said:

“Our response recognises that the PRS is a complex mix of different types of landlords, many of whom have only one property and have become landlords somewhat reluctantly. Most are keen to do things the right way, with those who give the sector a bad name being in a small minority.

“Regulation has to be ‘smart’ in that it has to be proportionate and not deter decent landlords from staying in, or entering, the market. But it also has to support uninformed landlords to improve and come down hard on bad landlords. Some local authorities are achieving this balance very successfully. Whilst we know that absolute consistency across Scotland is unlikely, stronger direction from the Scottish Government will ‘up the ante’ on how local authorities approach enforcement of standards in the PRS. The Scottish Government has already taken a lead by instigating this review of its PRS strategy: it now needs to build on that momentum.

“And the time is right too for the Scottish Government to identify and highlight best practice as part of its wider push to create a better PRS. CIH Scotland would be very happy to play a proactive role in supporting the Scottish Government in this work.

“A focused approach to tenant and landlord awareness raising is another area where there is scope for improvement: the introduction of the Tenant Information Pack has been really welcome, but it’s those tenants who don’t receive the Pack who require better access to information.”

The consultation response can be viewed here