Rental properties in Scotland owned by people who live outside Scotland: FOI release

Information requested

If the Scottish Government collates information on landlord registration and, in particular, how many rental properties in Scotland are owned by people who live outside Scotland?

Response

As you are aware the administration and registration of landlords and properties in Scotland is the responsibility of the local authority where the property lies. Registers of Scotland host and collate the data on landlord registration from all local authorities across Scotland on behalf of the Scottish Government.

The figures provided in this response were obtained from the Landlord Registration system and we are satisfied that these figures were correct at the time of publication. However, it should be noted that the primary use of The Scottish Landlord Register is as an administrative system and therefore there are some limitations of this data source. For example, the fact that registrations last for a period of three years means there could be a time lag in landlords de-registering properties which are no longer available for rent; in the case of any landlords looking to leave the sector or reduce their portfolio, it should also be recognised that the process could take several months from freeing up properties to completing sales; additionally some landlords register without properties as they may be in the process of purchasing a property (particularly where a buy to let mortgage is conditional on registering as a landlord); or they may be landlord agents who act on behalf of the property owner (this includes those who are acting via a Power of Attorney).

Please find below the details you requested

Total Number of active Landlords	224,152	Total Number of active properties	359,345
Total Number of active Landlords outside UK	14,373	Number of active rental properties	15,924
Number of active Landlords outside Scotland, but within UK	82,041	Number of active rental properties	153,442
Total Number of active Landlords in Scotland	127,738	Number of active rental properties	189,979

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