A recent report into letting agent qualifications and CPD highlights the importance that professional qualifications is playing in driving up standards across the private rented sector in Scotland.

In 2014, legislation was passed making provisions for the regulation of Letting Agents in Scotland. This was to improve the standards of service for those renting properties from letting agents and requires appropriate people in each letting agency to hold a relevant qualification and where necessary undertake additional training on letting agency work.

The report, which you can view here, outlines that 87% of letting agents who had done qualification said positive impact on their professional capabilities and 51% of landlords said that requirement for letting agent qualification had been positive thing for the private rented sector overall.

Importantly, 84% of letting agents said the introduction of qualifications has been positive for the sector overall highlighting more people looking at property agency as a long-term professional career option.

Propertymark Qualifications Level 6 Award in Residential Letting and Property Management is a leading accepted qualification whilst Propertymark membership provides an avenue for letting agents to log CPD and receive ongoing training and resources.

In addition, the report highlights the need to make training accessible for people and that is why Propertymark Qualifications are set to be able to use an interactive, remote invigilation platform.

Commenting on the report and at the launch event, Timothy Douglas, head of policy and campaigns at Propertymark, said: “We have long campaigned for greater regulation for letting agents. Ensuring agents are suitably qualified and meet minimum competency standards is the only way to drive up standards of service for consumers and eliminate bad practice in the sector. So, it is pleasing to see that a majority of letting agents have done a qualification saying it has had a positive impact on them professional and over half of landlords believe qualifications have been a positive thing for the sector overall.

“Through the Scottish government Draft Rented Strategy there is now an opportunity to look at whether requirement for qualifications is expanded to all and ensuring CPD is carried out annually rather than the current regulatory criteria of 20 hours over three years. As a membership body, Propertymark has a key role to play in not only supporting learners, but ensuring training, CPD and compliance is adhered to. We look forward to continuing to work with the Scottish Government and partners from across the sector to shape any future proposals.”