A new accreditation system to improve standards in property management was announced today by the Scottish Government.

Under the system property managers or ‘factors’ will have to meet high standards of service to attain accreditation. In a move designed to tackle ‘rogue elements’ in the profession, factors will be expected to produce clear written contacts for every client. An explicit complaints procedure will also be set up.

Property managers will have to obtain quotations from a number of contractors and show transparent accounting and billing procedures.

Factors manage areas like roofs, stairwells and communal gardens in flatted buildings.

The approval body will be industry-led rather than public, with support from the Scottish Government for its work. Membership will be drawn from a range of housing interests including consumers.

Announcing the establishment of the system Communities Minister Stewart Maxwell said that accreditation could be taken from a factor if standards are not met and tougher measures could still be applied if improper practices in the profession persist.

Maxwell said:

"Although house owners have legal rights to dismiss and appoint property managers, it is often difficult for them to identify good quality property managers.

"Homeowners will be able to appoint accredited property managers in the knowledge that they will provide a quality service.

"This is a wake-up call for the minority of property managers delivering a substandard service. The accreditation scheme will help weed out the cowboys.

"I welcome the market study of property managers recently announced by the Office of Fair Trading (OFT). The evidence produced by the study will help in the development of the accreditation structure."

Jamie Millar from the Property Managers Association Scotland commented:

"We support the introduction of the accreditation scheme for property managers.

"We look forward to working with the Government to ensure that home owners receive a professional service delivered to high standards."

Douglas Sinclair, Scottish Consumer Council chair, added:

'The SCC has for a long time been expressing concerns about the current system of Scottish property managers and welcomes the Scottish Government's announcement today.

"The decision to move ahead with an accreditation scheme is good news for householders.

"While there may be good property managers, the reputation of the whole industry has been dragged down by those who have failed their clients.

"By allowing them to choose the factors with clear and high standards of service, those who aren't doing their jobs properly will be forced to either get a lot better, or get out."

There are 330,000 owner-occupied flats in Scotland plus 85,000 rented from private landlords.