Factor scheme is covered by Scottish law

Council chiefs have ruled out setting up a city-wide registration scheme for property “factors” – because national legislation will deal with any problems.

Tory councillor Gordon Buchan, who represents Fountainbridge/Craiglockhart, wanted to see a by-law introduced in Edinburgh that meant factors who maintain many of the city’s private flats would have to register for an annual licence and pay a yearly fee.

But the Scottish Government has passed an Act that will establish a national register of property factors, which comes into force in October 2012.

Council officials believe the government’s actions mean there is no need for any local scheme.

In a report for councillors, Mark Turley, director of the council’s services for communities department, said: “It is considered that the introduction of the Property Factors (Scotland) Act 2011 will provide for the regulation of property factors at a national level and that this negates the need to create a local by-law.”

He said the Act “addressed the concerns” of Cllr Buchan’s original motion.