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Renfrewshire Council Plan 2008 - 2012 Landlords and agents
Home > Services > Housing > Private housing
On this page, you can find out about:
- Landlord registration
- How to apply for landlord registration
- Landlord Accreditation Scotland
- Renfrewshire private landlord forum
- Our landlord information pack
- The repairing standard
- Landlords and Houses in Multiple Occupation
- Antisocial behaviour
- Section 11 and illegal evictions
- Helping to house homeless people
From 30 April 2006 all private landlords, with some limited exceptions, have had to apply for registration in the register of landlords.
The aim of landlord registration is to make sure that all private landlords in Scotland are 'fit and proper' people to be letting residential property. The requirement to register helps us to remove the worst landlords from the market and protect tenants and the wider community from the impact of antisocial behaviour and mismanaged property.
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How to apply for landlord registration
There are two ways to apply for landlord registration. The registration fee for a set three year period is currently £55, and you must also pay an additional £11 for each property you let.
The easiest way to register is online at the landlord registration website. A 10% discount applies to online applications.
Alternatively, you can apply by downloading and completing this application form:
Registration of private landlord application form (pdf 65 Kb)Completed application forms should be returned to the licensing section at the address shown below together with the appropriate application fee. Please note that the 10% discount is only available to online registrations.
Renfrewshire Council
Licensing Section
Renfrewshire House
Cotton Street
Paisley PA1 1TT
For more information about the registration process, please email privatelandlord.licensing.cs@renfrewshire.gov.uk or contact us by phone on 0141 840 3205.
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Landlord Accreditation Scotland
Renfrewshire council entered in to a formal partnership with Landlord Accreditation Scotland (LAS) in October 2009 and we encourage all landlords and agents to become members. Accreditation will:
- provide benefits for both private landlords and their tenants
- promote best practice and continuous improvement of standards
- provide training opportunities for landlords
- provide advice to landlords and tenants, and
- give tenants reassurance that their landlord will operate to high standards
Scottish core standards for accredited landlords (Warning! This document may take some time to download due to the large file size - 3.62 MB)Back to top
Renfrewshire private landlord forum
Landlord Forums give landlords an opportunity to meet up with other landlords, agents and a variety of council departments involved in the private rented sector. A number of forums are held in Paisley throughout the year and registered landlords will be contacted directly in advance of each meeting. Should you wish to register your interest in attending please contact us at ownerservices.hps@renfrewshire.gov.uk
Regular newsletters are produced by the council for those who are unable to attend the forums. These newsletters summarise the issues raised at the meetings and provide other relevant information for landlords.
You can download a copy of the latest landlord newsletter by clicking on the link below:
Landlord Matters: August 2011 Warning: this file may take some time to download due to its large file size - 500Mb
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Landlord information pack
Renfrewshire Council has produced an online information pack to help new and existing landlords better understand their responsibilities. This pack contains downloadable leaflets on a range of issues, such as gas safety, local housing allowance and council tax. It also provides downloadable examples of possible lease information which could be used by landlords.
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The repairing standard
The repairing standard was introduced in 2007 and applies to most private sector tenancies.
Repairing standard (pdf 134 Kb)In order to meet the requirements of the repairing standard, you must make sure that:
- Your property is wind and water tight.
- The structure and exterior of the property are in reasonable repair.
- Space heating, water services and utilities are in proper working order.
- All fixtures, fittings and appliances are in reasonable repair and proper working order.
- Smoke alarms have been properly fitted.
Before the PRHP is able to intervene, tenants must provide evidence their landlord has failed to undertake a repair to a property. Where a landlord is found to have been negligent in not completing a repair, the PRHP can serve an enforcement order or a rent relief order. Landlords who fail to maintain their properties also risk being removed from the register of landlords.
For more information about your responsibilities for repairs, visit the Private Rented Housing Panel's website.
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Landlords and Houses in Multiple Occupation
If you rent your property out to three or more unrelated people, you will need a Houses in Multiple Occupation (HMOs) licence. Before an HMO licence can be granted, you must be able to show that:
- you meet your responsibilities in relation to common repairs
- all property is clean and well maintained
- all relevant gas and electrical certification is up to date, and
- fire escape routes are well maintained
Common repairs, common sense (645 KB)For more information, please contact the council’s Public Health Team on 0141 840 3125.
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Antisocial behaviour
All landlords have responsibility for monitoring and dealing with complaints relating to anti social behaviour by their tenants. The council has private sector housing officers in the Anti Social Investigations Team (Asist) who investigate complaints against tenants of private landlords.
The Asist Team will also offer advice and support to landlords on tackling anti social behaviour. For more information on antisocial behaviour, please download the below leaflet:
Anti social behaviour (Warning! This document may take some time to download due to the large file size - 1.89 MB)Back to top
Section 11 and illegal evictions
Landlords cannot evict tenants from their property unless they follow certain legal procedures. New legislation under Section 11 of the Homelessness Persons Act 2003 also requires landlords to notify the council of their intention to evict tenants.
Helping to house homeless people
The council works with over 60 landlords in Renfrewshire with its deposit guarantee scheme to help house homeless people.
Deposit Guarantee Scheme (Warning! This document may take some time to download due to the large file size - 1.74 MB)Many of these tenants are single people looking for one bedroom accommodation and cannot afford deposits for accommodation. The Deposit Guarantee Scheme will provide written guarantees to landlords in place of a cash deposit.
The Deposit Guarantee Officer provides continuous support to landlords to ensure that:
- rent is paid directly to landlords
- relevant lease agreements are prepared for landlords
- an inventory of the property is completed
- checks on tenants and property are undertaken regularly
- landlords are allowed to claim against the deposit guarantee scheme should loss or damage occur
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Find out more
If you would like more general advice or information, or wish to comment on any aspect of the information provided on this page, please contact us.
- Email: ownerservices.hps@renfrewshire.gov.uk or write to us at:
- Phone: 0141 847 6240
- Write to us:
Owner Services
Dept of Housing & Property Services
Renfrewshire House
Cotton Street
Paisley
PA1 1JD
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