Rogue landlords hit with rent ban

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Five landlords have been hit with rent penalty notices for failing to register with Renfrewshire Council.

The notices are the council's latest weapon in its drive to actively identify and act against rogue landlords.

The penalty notices hit unregistered landlords in the pocket by banning them from collecting rent while preventing them from evicting their tenants. All five landlords immediately decided to sign up after receiving the notices, which have a seven day activation period.

Councillor Brian Lawson, convener of Renfrewshire Council's housing and community safety policy board, said: "Landlords who are willing to flout one area of the law are likely to ignore other areas. Unregistered landlords are also more likely to ignore the national 'Repairing Standard' and they are more likely to carry out illegal evictions."

"Currently, there are over 2,200 registered landlords in Renfrewshire and we owe it to them and to the people who rent private accommodation to track down and tackle those landlords who are operating illegally."

Private landlords have to register with the council. It is a criminal offence, punishable by fines of up to £5,000 per offence, to let property without being registered.

The council works closely with local landlords and holds regular meetings with them to raise standards in the private rented sector.

The next meeting of the Renfrewshire Private Landlords' Forum is on 28 October at Reid Kerr College. Landlords who want to attend should call 0141 842 5480 or email ownerservices.hps@renfrewshire.gov.uk.

Under the Repairing Standard:

• accommodation must be wind and watertight and 'reasonably fit for human habitation'
• the structure and exterior must be in a reasonable state of repair
• installations for the water, gas and electricity supplies must be in a reasonable state of repair and in proper working order
• fixtures and fittings and any appliances provided by the landlord must be in a reasonable state of repair and in good working order
• any furnishings provided by the landlord must be able to be used safely and must be fit for the purpose they are intended for
• there must be a satisfactory means of detecting and warning tenants about fire (such as smoke alarms).

Information on how to register or how to check that a landlord is registered is available online at www.landlordregistrationscotland.gov.uk or by calling 0141 840 3205.

Press release: Monday 27 October 2008