Tenants organisations in Edinburgh welcomed new measures proposed for weeding out rogue traders and property managers.

Approximately 17 percent of properties in the city are now owned by private landlords, up from 14 per cent in 2005.

Stewart Maxwell, communities minister, is setting up an accreditation system with the aim of stopping cowboy property managers who carry out shoddy work and repairs to rental property and overcharge for services.

To be liable for accreditation, property managers would have to prove they could achieve high standards of service. A complaints procedure would be established for tenants who were unhappy with the service they received.

Property managers would be required to produce clear written contracts for all their clients and provide details of the complaints procedure.

Any work or service that needed to be undertaken would require quotations from a range of contractors.
Accreditation would be revoked if standards were not met, and Mr Maxwell threatened that tougher powers could be introduced if unacceptable practices persisted.

In a related article printed in the Scotsman, Maxwell said: “Although house owners have legal rights to dismiss and appoint property managers, it is often difficult for them to identify good quality property managers.

“Homeowners will be able to appoint accredited property managers in the knowledge that they will provide a quality service.

“This is a wake-up call for the minority of property managers delivering a substandard service. The accreditation scheme will help weed out the cowboys.”

Jacqui Watt, chief executive of the Scottish Federation of Housing Associations, added: “We look forward to being involved in this process, which should result in driving up the standards of property management for all.”