A Scottish Government consultation paper on Landlord Registration has received a response from SELECT, the campaigning body for the electrotechnical trade in Scotland. The association has called for more stringent controls over the vital electrical inspection and testing performed by private landlords prior to registration.

“Private landlord registration has been mandatory since 2004 and a robust application process is critical to keep the people of Scotland safe in privately rented accommodation,” said Darrell Matthews, Managing Director of SELECT. “Our members operate to the highest standards of electrical installation and testing and firmly believe that the government should hold private landlords to the same exacting standards.”

The consultation proposes to expand the “prescribed information” that landlords have to provide when letting a property. The proposal, as worded in the consultation, is that landlords provide information that “a property meets the specific requirements relating to gas, electrical, and carbon monoxide safety.”

SELECT’s response is that landlords should be required to submit written evidence that they have has electrical inspection and testing undertaken and that fire, smoke and carbon monoxide detectors are fitted and operational.

“The current Prescribed Information makes no requirement on the landlord to declare the safety of the property being rented, so any change to this is a welcome improvement,” said Darrell Matthews. “We believe that this is an excellent opportunity for the Scottish Government to put the safety of renters foremost, and ensure that properties being rented by private landlords have electrical installations of the highest standard.”

SELECT, Scotland’s largest trade association, has over 1250 member companies who collective turnover is around £1 billion and provide employment for 15,000 people. Its member companies also account for over 90% of all electrical installation work carried out in Scotland.