Members of the Scottish Parliament are being urged to back a register of blacklisted tenants in an effort to crack down on the increasing number of rent dodgers who set up in properties and then refuse to leave.
Gerry Mclellan is a disgruntled landlord who takes pride in looking after his properties and protecting them with landlord insurance. He has now lodged a petition calling for action and he is backed by the country’s national organisation for landlords who feel the problem also affects people living in neighbouring properties. Gerry is now calling for clear guidelines to be put in place to ensure speedier convictions along with a national database of previously blacklisted tenants. He believes the government must strengthen the legal means to evict bad tenants and ensure landlords can recover any money owed and not be out of pocket by, in some cases, thousands of pounds.
Gerry McLellan said: “Too many people are now suffering due to lazy louts who truly believe they are entitled to move into other peoples’ properties, trash them, stay as long as they want and refuse to pay any money. Landlords are now required to register. Tenants should be afforded the same courtesy.”
The appeal for action has the support of the SAL (Scottish Association of Landlords) who are aware that a large number of tenants have overstayed their welcome by a considerable period of time. They also pointed out that it has become a lot more difficult for landlords to properly check out their tenants, and they just do not know who they are allowing to live in their properties. Professional landlords now believe a system involving a tenants’ register, where previous landlords have vouched for them as good tenants would be a step in the right direction. A Scottish Government spokeswoman said its strategy for the private rented sector will be published before Christmas.