Community groups demand tougher action on city’s ‘rogue’ landlords

More than 20 community groups, unions and charities have signed an open letter demanding that the City of Edinburgh Council takes firmer action against ‘rogue’ landlords.

Campaign group Living Rent’s Leith branch delivered the letter to the council’s senior figures, accusing the authority of letting negligent landlords operate with little scrutiny.

The signatories say the situation has tipped into crisis, with renters being exposed to dangerous conditions, intimidation and illegal evictions.

The letter is addressed to Cllr Jane Meagher, Cllr Tim Pogson and Cllr Andrew Mitchell, and claims that oversight is failing.

It argues that the council’s existing enforcement tools are not being used effectively, allowing serious breaches to continue unchecked.

Edinburgh must act

Phill Pearce, the Edinburgh president of the Educational Institute of Scotland, backed the campaign, and said: “More needs to be done to protect the children in our city who live their lives in accommodation that is in disrepair, containing safety hazards and under the constant threat of skyrocketing rents and forced evictions.

“Such conditions have a highly deleterious effect on the health, wellbeing and educational outcomes of our pupils which we see as teachers day in day out.”

He added: “It is grossly unfair that the children of parents and carers that work hard to maintain a roof over their heads should suffer when there are already powers and statutory duties available to City of Edinburgh council to help protect tenants and their families from rogue landlords, unsafe living conditions and homelessness.”

Dealing with hazards

According to the groups, Edinburgh residents are paying a heavy price, and they point to mounting reports of tenants having to deal with hazards.

They also say renters face ignored repairs and threats as rents rise.

A recent Living Rent report, entitled ‘Letting Landlords off the Hook’, is referenced in the letter as evidence of systemic failings in the council’s regulatory approach.

The coalition outlines five areas where it says immediate intervention is required.

The first is money and staffing with a need for proper resourcing of the private rented sector enforcement team.

The groups also want clearer reporting on complaints, inspections, enforcement decisions and how landlord registration tests are applied.

Campaigners say officials must use the powers they already have, including statutory duties, to identify non-compliant landlords and carry out tougher checks before approving registration.

Tenant protection

Another request concerns tenant protection and that no renter should face reprisals, eviction threats or other consequences when action is taken against their landlord.

Campaigners warn that punitive effects on tenants can undermine the entire enforcement system.

The final demand urges the council to stop awarding major housing contracts to landlords with relevant convictions or tribunal rulings.

They argue that public money must not flow to those who have failed to meet basic standards.

The letter ends with a call for immediate action to prevent growing insecurity, homelessness and risk across the city’s rented sector.

Property118 commercial reality check

Community pressure often creates noise, yet commercially disciplined landlords know the real differentiator is compliance, documentation and operational control. Legitimate operators thrive when enforcement focuses on genuine offenders rather than conflating them with professional housing providers.

What serious landlords should do next

Strengthen compliance files: Maintain an indexed record of safety certificates, inspection logs and repair timelines. Clean documentation removes ambiguity and protects your commercial position during any scrutiny.

Prove maintenance discipline: Create a quarterly works schedule that tracks response times, contractor invoices and photographic evidence of completed jobs. A visible audit trail reinforces that you run a responsible housing business.

Sharpen registration readiness: Review registration details and supporting documents in advance of renewal. This avoids delays and gives you control rather than reacting to administrative pressure.

Model operational capacity: Plan staffing, contractor availability and cashflow buffers over a 12-month horizon. Structured modelling shields your business from the unpredictability of regulatory shifts.

Tenant communication protocols: Set a written system for reporting repairs, updates and follow-through. Clear processes reduce friction, prevent escalation and demonstrate professionalism.