Delivering Private Rented Services in Edinburgh The Role
Delivering Private Rented Services in Edinburgh
The Role of the Private Rented Sector • Providing privately let homes provides a vital resource to meet housing demand in the city; • Edinburgh has the largest market for privately rented homes in Scotland; • It is an expanding resource and has a critical role to play in Edinburgh’s housing strategy. 2
Role of the Council • To mange the registration of all landlords who operate in the city; • To implement the licensing of Houses in Multiple Occupation (HMOs); • To provide direct, guidance and support to both landlords and tenants. 3
Landlord Registration • Introduced as part of the Anti-Social Behaviour (Scotland) Act , 2004; • Edinburgh has 35, 000 registered involving just under 45, 000 properties. • This places the Council at the top of the 32 local authorities in the country. 4
Houses in Multiple Occupation (HMOs) • An HMO is a private let which has three or more unrelated people living in the property. • Licensing is governed by the Housing (Scotland) Act 2006; • Edinburgh has c. 6, 000 HMOs operating in the city 5
Enforcement • The Council’s aim is to work positively with landlords to achieve safe, secure and high quality accommodation in the city; • Registration and licensing is a positive means of engaging with landlords; • The Council, however, has enforcement powers under both Acts to challenge landlords who fall below expected standards. 6
Enforcement (2) • The significant majority of landlords work very effectively and comply fully with expected standards; • Informal “enforcement” is effective to achieve improvement should there be an identified gap in standards; • Edinburgh is committed, however, to take action against landlords who consistently fail to comply with the legislation. 7
Joint working arrangements • The city operates a cross – Council service HMO joint inspection team; • Formal agreement are in place with both the Police and Fire and Rescue Service; • Officers from both services are seconded into the Private Rented Services Team. 8
Ongoing Aims and the Council’s Objectives • To work consistently to ensure that landlords, tenants and other residents are provided with a first class service from the Council; • To manage a thriving private letting service in the city; • To provide homes to many people which supports the Council’s housing strategy’s aims and objectives. 9
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