In an effort to improve transparency of land ownership, the Scottish government is introducing a new public land register on April 1.
The new Register of Persons Holding a Controlled Interest (RCI) in land will allow communities and individuals to find out who has a controlling interest in Scotland’s land.
The RCI is a register of persons who own, or are tenants of (under a long lease of more than 20 years), land, including entities with legal personality. Entries flow from the recorded person, who is obliged to disclose persons who have significant influence or control over decisions in relation to land, known as associates.
It will provide information about those who ultimately make decisions about the management or use of land, even if they are not necessarily registered as the owner, including overseas entities and trusts.
Penalties for non-compliance with the register will come into force at the end of a 12-month transition period in April 2023.
“The launch of this new register marks a significant milestone in making land ownership in Scotland more transparent,” said Environment and Land Reform Minister, Mairi McAllan.
“I want to ensure that there can no longer be categories of landowner or tenant where, intentionally or otherwise, control of decision-making is obscured, including in or via overseas trusts or entities.
“Scotland has a long history of land reform and this journey to make the ownership and use of our land and assets fairer marches on.
“The new register will make Scotland a frontrunner in Europe and deliver greater transparency than any other part of the UK. It enables the public to look behind land ownership and identify those who ultimately make decisions,” the minister continued.
“We [Scottish government] have committed to bring forward a new Land Reform Bill over the course of this parliament which will further tackle Scotland’s historically iniquitous patterns of land ownership and use.”
Keeper of the Registers of Scotland, Jennifer Henderson added:
“Registers of Scotland are delighted to have been given the responsibility to establish and maintain the Register of Persons Holding a Controlled Interest in Land.
“The register will become a valuable source of information and bring greater transparency of who makes decisions about the country’s land and property.
“It will deliver valuable insight to citizens and communities across Scotland.”
