A new landlord accreditation scheme has been launched in Glasgow, and the city’s 16,000 private residential landlords and letting agents are being encouraged to sign up.

The Glasgow-leg of the nationwide scheme was launched last week by Glasgow City Council and Glasgow Community and Safety Services (GCSS) in partnership with Landlord Accreditation Scotland (LAS).

Partner agencies were hoping the city’s private landlords and letting agents were keen to drive up the standards in the private rented sector, benefiting both landlords and tenants

City councillors believed that the scheme would help reassure tenants that their landlords would receive
regular training and guidance from LAS.

It will also enable tenants to look for private landlords with LAS accredited status, helping to ease the ‘house-hunting’ process.

To become accredited, landlords and letting agents must adhere to the ‘Scottish Core Standards for Accredited Landlords’, which relate to the management and physical condition of their properties.
Surveys would be carried out on tenants and the LAS would conduct property inspections to ensure compliance with the standards.

In addition to providing a recognisable industry standard for landlords, other benefits include access to advice and guidance on property management, training, sharing best practice, access to legal, accounting and insurance services and a network of tradesman and receiving discounts on furniture and white goods.

The scheme rewards those who take part by giving them recognition for their efforts and enabling them to distance themselves from bad practice.

Over the past few years Glasgow Council has been given a range of substantial new powers to regulate the private rented sector.

Since 2000 it has administered a comprehensive licensing scheme for houses in multiple occupation and in 2006 instigated compulsory registration for all private landlords and properties.