The national approval rate for Scotland's Landlord Registration Scheme has risen to 85%, up from only 15% in April 2007.

Figures show 131,706 landlords and agents have now applied for the scheme which aims to ensure Scotland's private landlords meet minimum legal requirements.

This covers 80% of Scotland's privately rented housing stock.

Local authorities are currently working closely with the sector to improve standards, handling around 6,000 calls from landlords and tenants a month and holding 120 local landlord forums since registration began.

In addition, councils have issued 642 late application fees and 418 rent penalty notices to landlords who have failed to sign up to the scheme.

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The news on enforcement and approval rates comes as regulations are laid at the Scottish Parliament aimed at improving the efficiency of landlord registration.

Minister for Communities and Sport, Stewart Maxwell said: "I am extremely pleased to see that the approval rates of applications to the Landlord Registration Scheme now stand at 85%.

"Local authorities have put considerable effort into improving the delivery of the scheme over the past eighteen months and we can see that this is now paying off.

"There is still work to be done and I want to focus our efforts on enforcing the legislation and removing the worst landlords who continue to give the sector a bad reputation."

Since April 30, 2006, private landlords in Scotland have been required to apply to any local authority where they let property for registration. As at December 2, 2008, 85% of the 131,706 landlords and agents who have applied for registration have had their applications processed and approved.

The changes to the Landlord Registration Scheme come in advance of the first batch of renewals, due to begin in March 2009. A registration lasts for three years after which point an application for renewal must be made.

(GK/JM)