Delivering Private Rented Services in Edinburgh

2 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.

3 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.

4 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.

5 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

6 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.

7 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.

8 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.

9 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.