Owners or long-term tenants of land or property in Scotland may need to submit an entry to a new land registry before April begins.
Launched in April of 2022, the Register of Persons Holding a Controlled Interest in Land (RCI) exists to improve transparency about those who ultimately make decisions about land.
This is required even if the person is not registered as the owner of the land.
The Scottish government is urging individuals and organisations to check if they are legally required to submit to the register before the deadline of April 1, 2024, after which point they could risk being fined up to £5,000.
Cabinet secretary for rural affairs, land reform and islands, Mairi Gougeon said: “Who owns and controls Scotland’s land and property matters, which is why we launched the Register of Persons Holding a Controlled Interest in Land in April 2022.
“The register was designed to provide greater transparency over who has control over decision making in relation to land and property and the two-year transitional period to make an entry is now coming to an end.
“Non-compliance will become a criminal offence as of April 1, 2024, which means those in scope who should be on the register but have not met the deadline could risk a fine of up to £5000.”
Gougeon said the regulations are not intended to capture those who own their own home where there is no one with significant influence or control over them.
“I urge everyone who may be unsure, to go to the Registers of Scotland website and make use of the extensive guidance on offer.”
Registers of Scotland maintains the RCI and provides guidance and support on who needs to apply and how to do so.
Keeper of the Registers of Scotland, Jennifer Henderson, said: “Registers of Scotland are pleased to be custodians of another register that offers insight into the transparency of land and property ownership nationwide.
“The data within the Register of Persons Holding a Controlled Interest in Land is already becoming a valuable asset for the people and economy of Scotland.”
