A campaigning body for the electrotechnical trade in Scotland, has called for more stringent controls over the electrical inspection and testing performed by private landlords prior to their registration.

SELECT, whose member companies account for over 90 per cent of all electrical installation work carried out in Scotland, was responding to a Scottish Government consultation paper on Landlord Registration.

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

One of the key areas in the consultation relates to a proposal to expand the “prescribed information” which landlords have to provide when letting a property. This will require landlords to provide information that “a property meets the specific requirements relating to gas, electrical and carbon monoxide safety.”

SELECT has said that landlords should be required to submit written evidence that they have had electrical inspection and testing undertaken and that fire, smoke and carbon monoxide detectors are fitted and operational. Mr Matthews said: “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. We believe this is an excellent opportunity for the 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 is Scotland’s largest trade association, with over 1,250 member companies, employing 15,000 people and a combined turnover of around £1 billion.