ONE in four Scots landlords have failed to sign up for a national registration scheme.

ONE in four Scots landlords have failed to sign up for a national registration scheme.

The scheme set up to give better protection to private tenants has been "far too slow" in getting off the ground.

And despite a rise of more than 50% signing up in the past two years, housing charities say more needs to be done.

The latest blow comes just weeks after the Evening Times revealed how private landlords were renting flats out to families in appalling conditions. In one case a flat owned by Mohammed Aslam in Allison Street in Govanhill was forcibly shut down by the council. The cockroach-infested flat was home to a Slovakian Roma family of 11.

John Blackwood, director of the Scottish Association of Landlords, said: "Reputable landlords want to see landlord registration take the appropriate action against rogue landlords and welcome a landlord accreditation as a positive step towards engaging with landlords and letting agents in promoting best landlord practice in Scotland."

Archie Stoddart, director of Shelter Scotland, said: "We fully supported landlord registration as a way to raise standards in the private rented sector and remove rogue landlords.

"Progress was far too slow to start with but it is encouraging that 75% of landlords are now registered. We hope it that it will not be long until that figure is 100%."

Latest figures show the number of property owners now recognised by Scotland's Landlord Registration Scheme has risen from 15% to 75% and applications have risen from 13,500 to around 86,000 in the last year.

The scheme was designed to ensure all private landlords meet minimum legal requirements.

Communities and Sport Minister Stewart Maxwell revealed the figures as he launched Landlord Accreditation Scotland, a voluntary add-on scheme which will raise standards further for landlords.

Similar to a Kite Mark, it goes beyond the minimum requirements of Landlord Registration Scheme by encouraging private landlords to win accreditation for managing their properties to certain standards.

Members will also need to attend at least one training course each year to ensure there is continuous improvement in their practices.

And tenants looking for a property can learn which landlords are meeting the highest standards.

Mr Maxwell said: "I am pleased to see the approval rates of applications to the Landlord Registration Scheme now stand at 75%. Also, the number of landlords who have applied for registration has increased by over 50% since May 2006 to over 113,000 today.

"I know local authorities have put considerable effort into improving the delivery of the scheme over the past year and we can see that this is now paying off.

"The introduction of the Landlord Accreditation Scheme will further benefit both landlords and tenants."

The new top-up accreditation scheme starts next month and is backed by a £321,000 start-up grant from the Scottish Government.

It will be free for landlords to join, but letting agents will need to pay an annual membership fee.