Register of Letting Agents
From 1 October 2018, agents in Scotland managing rented residential property are required to have applied for registration on the new Register of Letting Agents. Introduced and managed by the Scottish government, the regulations within the private rented sector (PRS) are part of steps being taken across the UK to improve industry standards.
All those undertaking letting agency work in Scotland are required by law to:
- Follow a Letting Agent Code of Practice.
- Join the Register of Letting Agents.
It will be a criminal offence to continue with letting agency work if not on the register.
The Letting Agent Code of Practice was introduced in January 2018 and requires that agents undertake continuing professional development and provide relevant training to all staff.
Those deemed to be carrying out letting agency work are either carrying out work for a private landlord who intends to let their property to a tenant, or managing a property which is either rented out, or is intended to be, to a tenant.
A social landlord, i.e. one that only manages properties that they either own, are owned by a local council, or are owned by a registered social landlord, are not required to register, neither are those who only let out and manage holiday lets.
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