Five landlords have been hit with rent penalty notices for failing to register with Renfrewshire Council.

The notices are the council's latest weapon in its drive to actively identify and act against rogue landlords.

The penalty notices hit unregistered landlords in the pocket by banning them from collecting rent while preventing them from evicting their tenants. All five landlords immediately decided to sign up after receiving the notices, which have a seven day activation period.

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Councillor Brian Lawson, convener of Renfrewshire Council's housing and community safety policy board, said: "Landlords who are willing to flout one area of the law are likely to ignore other areas. Unregistered landlords are also more likely to ignore the national 'Repairing Standard' and they are more likely to carry out illegal evictions."

"Currently, there are over 2,200 registered landlords in Renfrewshire and we owe it to them and to the people who rent private accommodation to track down and tackle those landlords who are operating illegally."

Private landlords have to register with the council. It is a criminal offence, punishable by fines of up to £5,000 per offence, to let property without being registered.

The council works closely with local landlords and holds regular meetings with them to raise standards in the private rented sector.

(GK/JM)